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WETZEL, THE SCOUT;

THE CAPTIVES OF THE WILDERNESS.

BY BOYNTON BELKNAP, M. D.

NEW YOIIK

' BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
' w~ WILLIAM m‘IIIcm'.

 

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by

FRANK STARR 85 00.,
In the omce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

 

h.

 

  

WETZEL, THE SCOUT;

’ CHAPTER I.

ON THE OHIO

" Who fired that gun l” demanded Captain Parks, as he
turned around and faced his terrified negro, Pompey.
" Hans: me, if! don’t believe it was you, Pompey.”

“ [1. ben sabe me, ma~sa captain; I wouldn’t do such a
ring for ten fousa..d dollars 1”

“ Let me see your gun.”

The trembling: African obeyed. It required buta moment
for the ira<cible captaimto ascertain that the piece had just'
been discharged.

“ Yes, you black rascal, it was you! Take that!" he add-
ed giving his servant a tremendous kick. The latter paid
not the least heed to it, and finally added, as if addressing
himself.

“Come to tink soberly on de matter, I bring to mind I
did have de hummer up, so as to be ready for de Injins
“311..., dey do cum}, and jist now I stubbed my toe, and
j» l'kt‘d on de triguer, and Is'pose dab am what made do
blustwd ting go Off so mighty suddth like.”

“ Of course it was, you bhn-k ruwall It came within an
inch of my hwad. If anythinar like that happens again, I’ll
leuVe you hi r in the woods for the lndiun's tomahawk."

“ “~le sa’e me, 1’“ be carelul.” I

Captain P.rks, a blunt, corpulent, middle-aged man, who
had served and been wounded in the Revolutionary war,
was toilsomely making his way along the banks of the
Ohio, near the close of day. followed by his servant, a great
fat negro, of about as much use as a common ox would
have been. He was endeavoring to reach a certain point,

 

  

 

!

10 LEW WHETZFL, THE SCOUT.

which had been de-tcribed to him by the renowned ranger
Lew Wetzel, for the purpose of being taken on board a flat-
hoat on its way down the Ohio. His own family an]! a
number of hientls Were on hoard, and after seeing them
embark, a good‘y number of mill 3 ulmvo, he hill 3 me over-

land for some distance in order to meet a man on an irnpnrt- ‘

ant business matter. Remaining with him no long r than
could be helpel, he made all haste toward the rendezvous,
which he had just reached at the time we introduce him to
the reader. '

“ Yrs, Pompey, here’s the spot!” eyelaimed Captain
Parks, looking around in surprised pleasure. “ There’s the
uprooted tree, with the shrubbery growing around its rents,

that Wetz‘d told me to be on the look-out for.” '
“ Yaas, and dar am de riber dat he said would be dar,
too.” a

“The river, you blockhead? Of course, else how could we
meet the flat-boat.”

“Dut am so,” returned Pompey, thoughtfully, and a mo-
ment later he shouted, “Ki yi ? dane comes now.”

“ meblasted tool, that is a canoe full of Imliansl
down, or they’ll have Oill' soulps in ten iinutes.”

The men sank down out of sight, “Side the canoe that
had attracted their attention, made its way swiftly across
the river several hundred yards above. Its inmates seemed
unaware of their presence, us they advanced ntraight
across the riVer without swerving to the right or left.

As Captain Parks was anxiously scanning the savages ht
was certain he saw a white man sitting in the stern, ant.
from appearances he was the guiding spirit of the forces.
Wlnle scrutinizing him the negro at hln’elhow again-[i spoke.

“Dar it am dis time, shuah.” ..

He was not mistaken this time. 0 .ming around a bend
above, the flat-boat. floatt-d slowly and siluntly forward un-
der the perfect control vot'the current. When first seen it
had the appearance of a large, squa re box, at tithcr end of
Which was hung a lengthy oar, which n )w and then sway-
ed and dipped in the water. The cabin ran the entire
length, exct-pt at each end th re was a small space left anili-

Stoop

81'
,t-
a

7‘5

5

JJ
‘-

" "0: O

';’sli0we:l his it riuidnble res-‘rveui srrvr‘gth and no ivity.

I
.3
i s,
i LEW wnan, THE scour. 11
cient to contain a halfiluzen then. Abnve tlzgm open spac-
es the heavy bullet~proo sidbs robe for five feet. A small
Ifhrmw wiuiluw W‘IS pli‘l‘OWl in the s‘idfiv, ‘np min: and shutt-
:ng at pleasure, while a trap :llF’ r ’e-‘l egrem to flow within.
 Tue spac s at th» ends cmflnnuinfwl {vizh the cabin by
gmfi‘uns‘ Hi Hunt er \‘lll'lll «la-or, st) thpt,s the inma’es of the
{fixing wh ever they might he. wvre mile to 1mm: and rap-133
f' with nut ex»; snug“ them:elves to dungtr fruln “evur watch-
ful toe with lll’lo - ' ‘
Viewed fr.nn the share, not a sin of We would have
been seen at first. Some invi ihle but skilful hand so: mad
I to dip and sweep the lung guiding ears and ket-p the b mt
in the channel. But’ia clmer view wnuld have shown a
i 81m“. (l'tl'k Shut-l ke apnearnuce ath! the gunwale fit the
 stern, Which at lung llllml'V'ilS changed its pmi 1nn, and then
for S )‘lmlg n time remained S'ntimmry as to give me impres‘
sion ihn' i: was a part 0' the hunt i it‘ll. 'l‘ uis 2mm]! ubjei-t
; was 9. on n akin (mp, Aml it reeve‘l up in the hem! uf him who
 wa< guiding this bunt thrnugh tll: perils that environ it. A
i nearer nppromh, and a low hum, as though persons were
: conVersing in thecnhin, might have been heard; but no
other appearances of life would have been seen upon the out-
side, except the one individual refined to. 119 was a man
young in years, yet with an exnress‘on of face and appear-
ance of dress that shiin he had much cxperien 36 in back-
Wnods life. He was rather Jull. of a muscu’nr, “non-five
i fr rue. and hall a fine, in‘cl igunt oxiireision of (munu-nn ce.
 H's nnSe Wus Small and finely formed, his eyi-s blzu'k and
‘ gli tarihg, his lung: thu k hair fell in curling muss-5} over his
shoulders, hi4 m with “as small and (XIINSSlVC, and there
i was an appeamu-fe of c«‘mptiC'ncSS :thont hie frume that
He
Was attire! in the Hellzll huntin r cos-t line of the tiny—com-
; skin on), with unting ahirt, lvgzllls nml inuc'nsins "mile of
‘ deir skin. A belt [inesing arminl the wui~t wis tue reposi-
 tory of u cmtp'e of savage: leaking kni-e.~,wlnle a lung polisha
ed rifle tested against lllu cahiu.
Our two friends on shore waited until the flat-boat was
nearly oppositer when Captain Parks arose to his re. t and

 

 

 

 

12 LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. I
made a signal with his hat. The eagle eye of Wetzel quickly 1
detected it, and swinging his own cap over his head to sig- f
nify t"~at all W'tS rizht, a small sort, of 0 mo: waq instantly
lowvred, and 'l‘npe'nlcd by the kiln] pit We of the renowu- t
ed rnrgn-r himwl', i‘ won reachrd the Slll‘l'c, and received
the two men on board.

“ Dar am :1 hnn ‘rud "oumnl In rioea l” whisper-d Pomn- i
er in a hol'l‘lllgd whisoer.
littlt‘ somwr dan p isslhl -.”

thtzel luu‘kcd inquirmgly at the captain, who made an-

BWt'l‘: V i,

f‘ A canoe full, ])a-‘Selj'-lSt before you came in sight.” 

“I s-Ien ’em,” returned the ranger. “ There’s a white g
man with ’en too. I'm a‘raid we’ll have trouble lrom ’em
more long. t 0.”

“Golly hebbinl let’s go hack borne.”

“Shut up. you hluck rasmd.”

A t'e-w minutes la'ter our lrimde were rocoived on board
the flnt boat, and mostj ylully Welcomed hy its occu:-ants.
It was already getting dark, so that the meeting had not
occurred too eoon. It singularly happened t at both Cap-
tain Parks and the flat-boat Were delayed several hours in,
reaohing the appointed spot. _

There Were a dozen upon the boat beside Whetzel, includ~
ing the females of Stuart, Kingmun and Parks, and several
young, enterprising nwn. l

Stuart was a sturdy, middle-aged farmer, who had fir-at l
proposed this underttking. and was the leading spirit of the l
enterprise. He mu 3 corpulunt, goo l-nntnr (1 man, and was
acclnnpaincd by hi~ wife, and a meek, blue-eyed daughter
oft-ighteen or twenty years. K'ngman was a relative of
Swank; was of about the same age, and of Ihe same ph-us-
ant, sot-in] disposition. H s only child wae a son, just verg-
ing imo nmnhood, who had hollerullyj inel the li t’e ex-
pedition. The third Inenrionel was Parks, our first ac-
quaintance, who was about forty years of age, with a heavy 7

grizz y heard and bushy hair, and of so irasc Me a (“HPUSi- l

tion that he had gained the name of the “ Mad Captain.”

“ Let’s grit buck to de flat-bout a T

  

  

    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

l3

LEW WlIETZEL, TIIE SCOUT.

3k], :He was childless, having lost his only son in battle rains

Sig‘ ;years before.

my ‘ The party at the time we introduce them to the notice of

Mk I the ['I'Mdrl‘, H91“ engugod owr the‘r th-niug meal. and thus

ved the hu:.ter WheIZeI was undisturbed by the presence of any
of them.

,r,_ Suddenly, like the flash of a demon’s eye, a bright spot of

Hire, finned from the irky l ar-knes; of the wt-stern shore,
l the sharp crack ofa r.fie burst upon the night Mll', its sullen

l . . . n
1 echoes rolling far up and down the I‘lVel‘. Not a motion

There is a magic power in the moonlight, when it rvsts
like a silver veil upon the countenmme, softening and mel~
loWing the outlines, until everyfeature glows with a radiant
mildness.

And. when a few moments later, Irene Stmrt made her
_ ; appearance, her face was of suspassing beauty. She was
. rlltllt'l‘ below the medium size, ofa light delicate frame. As
she emerged from below a heavy shawl enveloped her, con-

yn. or word on the fl tt-bout betrayed that. the Sound of a rifle
 had been heard. Whetzel was standing as usual, resting
ite ! quietly on the oar, and heard the whizz of the b vllet as it
m : skimmed over the boat in front of him. Not the lea~t dis-
, comfited, h» neither spoke nor changed his position at the
i startling s iund. A deliberate half-turning of the head and
i an apparently casual glance at the shore from which the
rd  shot had come, Were all that betokened his knowledui‘ of
S the ttreat ntd danger. There was little need of cautioning
,é 'the inmates, as they Were well aware of the dangers by
)_ i which they were surroun'led. Around WhetZel stood King-
) man and Parks, while-{at the Opponte end were young King-
’ . man and a friend by the name of Russel. The ftInules re-
l. -‘ . mained blow.
a The night was one of those clear, beautiful on! s, when the
I, silence is so perfect that the dark forest seems to have a
,t  deep, sullen, and almost inaudible roar, and there is >of't.
e  music in the hum ()1 two myrinds of insects in thD air. As
8  the moonlight rested upon the youthful, hut air a 'y bronz-
r ed face 0' the brave Wilthel, it disclosed one o.’ no ordinary
, i intelligence.
t

  
  
  
 
  
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
   
 
  
 
 
   

  

14 LEW wnmer, TIIE scour.
cea‘ing her faultless form to the slmul 'ers.
innslly hthind, ft“ in a black ma“ (Wer her ~houlder<. The
the- whiteness of th- tune seemed incrvase l hr tln- same enb
chanting veil. Th-’~ night juurmy was 0 intinuetl in safety,

spe- dily incwpornted into the settleiiielit prorerf

homes for themselvtls in this great wildernes, and they went
to work wFth the determination to do so.

'ueist'mce, cabins for all were Soon erected. and a large por-
tion of the forest clearel and put under cultivation.

Matters progre<sed well until, afar the lap~e of a. f w
months, rumors reuo :ed t e s filament of :1 frightful it crease
of the outrages upot Iho :mI‘t of the savages. The menac-
ing dung- r t» the settlement finally assumed such a term
that stuckatles were erected and the place put in a. state of

* defense.

A month or two pas ed thus, until ‘h \ st needing spri' g,
when Whetzv] arrived at the settlemeit with 1‘ call for twc-n
ty mun tuj in a. company that were going. to in art h in'o
tie Indian country for the purpose of teaching them that
the whites cnull not be murderel with impunity.

The «‘e iw d twontv at onto Per'HHlt d to the call. Amnrg
these wue Mad Captain Parke. Kingman, Stuart, and oth is
who were in the flat b'mt. Wh tzel was to be the loader
until they reached the appointed 1'. ndczva, a numl-er (1'
mile» up the 1' re", wl on th: “hole wa- to he placed uh: u-
h c an n ml! at" (Jul, S m l"->rl, :1 m-m who latl PXpt‘rlv «-
el (umsi lerahle Indinn figlrimz. The entire ,t roe wn~. t»
number two hundr. d and lifts. an l it w s e: n'ldently
lOped that a summary clr-ck w uld he put to the burnt! u

i th -t were beenumiug lrig' t‘ulh~ Common ulnng the ft out I 1'.

.At the appoi. ted time the w’mle two hundred and tilt
gatinred at ert Lafayette (the one of ancient days) ant
with high hopes they sat out for the Indian town of Lush

ne. under the lead of the gallant Colonel Sendford.

 

There was no '
Covering For the head, and her dark clIbt-‘rinu hair gathered ,

mo nl'ght guw to the mild him- eyes u. langui‘l Sultl e s‘ and ‘
and the nextduy the wished~lor settlement W88 reaclh-d. v
Hfih‘ they were all rtcetved wi 11 open aruw,anu were ’

The men had mme for the PUI‘pt se of carving out new ‘

By mutual as- ’

 

 

    

LEW WHETZEL, THE scour. 15
To reach this, it was necessary to cross a large stream—a
no tributary of the Ohio. This was done in safety, and late
‘et One night they encamped within a comparatively short
‘ht d stance of the lnd'an town. A greater number of sentinels
m were put on duty, and the rest lay down to be ready fir the
in: “tug of war" that they Confidently countel on for the mor-
y‘ 10W.
-d. In rite of the extraordinary precautions that were taken
3" the l‘leE‘t “"6 W8“ br ken throutgh, and an overwhelming
body of Indians poured into the camp. The officers endeav-
5w Ored to rally them; but Colonel San. lford was almost instant-
“; 1y shot, and the panic become complete.
5-. Many of the men perful‘lmd prodigies of valor. Whetzelg
.r. raged like a madman ; but the men broke, and Were '
sca'tered like chaff, an] were hewn down as they ran.
w . Ending it was all useless to attempt to stay. the tide,
59 Whetzel, Captain Parks and Ki gman attempted to save
0. tln mstlves. The two former successfully made their escape
m in the darkness, but the latter was wounded, and crawled
,f for sa‘t-ty beneath a clust r of bushes. llere helay all night,
while the dreauful carnival went on. He cau.lit sight of
g, the shadowy farms rushing to and fro, heard the continual
n Sh'rieks ot the victimri, and now and then the death yell of
0 Home ever-ventures nne Indian. He eXpeeted every mo-
“ ment to be discovered, and to share the fate of his compan-
Ions.
When the morning finally dawned, the tumult died away,
a and overpowered by his exhaustion he fell asleep. When
I. he flWuke the day was well advanced. As he regained his
1- censeinusness he leuked about him; but no person was via-
1. “He. The massacre was fini~lr d.
_ Kingman crawled to a brook near by and quenched his
’ th’rst, and then made his way back again, seeing no pros-
, gPect for him but to lie there and perish, or suffer a death of,
4 Violence from the hands of the first one who should discuvl
fit him.
He lay there all day. At nightfall he was startled by the
1 jappearance of a little whiflit ofaalog directly in front of
évhitn. Knowing that some one else must be' close at hand,

 

  

    

    

16 LEW’ WHETZEL, THE scour.
he managed to lure the brute to him, when he cut his throat
from ear to ear.

“ There,” he muttered, as he wiped the blood from his
hands, “ you can’t bt-tray my hiding place. —sh 1”

Just tln-n he looked up and saw the renegade Johnson
but a few rods away, and apparently looking for something.

 

CHAPTER II.
POMPEY IN wan.

‘Dis yer gemmen ob color orter for to go to war, dat am .
sax-tin. While de rest am sheddin’ dar blood round dese
parts, it ain’t right for him to be idle.”

Thus solilnqnized Pompey when the forces marched from
his village toj in those in invading the Indian country. I
The reason he gave himself, however, was not the true step
that influenced him. Through his thick skull there crept
Some such logic as this:

“If do best men lehe dis place, den dis place becomes de
weakes’. De Iijins will find dis out, and den what’s to
Babe us dat Stays behind? Wlwrcas and wherefore dem dat
goes away will be de safes’. Darfore, inasmuch as, de best
ting Ican do is to go wid ’em. Dmfore, homumever, I v
80.”

He hurried along and overtook the party before they had
penetrated any great distance in 'the forest. T|.e leaders
were (li~posed to send him hack; but he was so earnest in
his entrentics to be alloWed to g) that they finally consent-
ed, and he formed one of the party.

When the Mach was made, Pompey broae for covrr.
His prudent resolve was to remain out of sight as lOng as
there was dangtr, and then to be “in at the death,‘7 and
claim his share of the glory.

Such being his situation, it was out of his power, as a
m'atter of course, to comprehend at once the disaster that
had befallen Colonel Sandl'ord and his command. When he I
found the whites Were scattering and seeking individual

l
l

at

is

Hat'on

Quip—-

.—wnw

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. 1‘7

safety, and the Indians roaming everywhere in search of
victims, he liegan to suspect that all ha-l not gone as well as
he had hoped.

“G rrynationl I begin to tink it’s time dis yer black
man Was tinking of lihing.”

At the time he gave expression to this thought, Pompey
was crouched beneath some thick undergrowth, and glaring
out upon the In dinns, who seemed to be paSsing all around
and in eVery direction. lltl'c he remained until broad day~
light. He had wit enough to understand lhat it was now
impossible for him to escape discovery. The place in which
he lay was the very one which a frightened fng'tive would
naturally secrete himself, and was therefore the one which
the Shawnees Would So arch. It would be certain death to
attempt to e-cape lly fleeing. Hi5 huge feet and short legs
could not be compared with thoSe of his enemies. IIe, there-
fore hit 1110” the brilliant idea of feigning death until nlnht-
tall. when he could make ofi under cow-r of darkness.

He had barely made thiq resolution, when a ital wart In-
dian walked slraiuht to the bushes, and pulling them aside,
peered in. Perhaps the glare of the sun, or the utter dark-
ness of Pompey himself, made the negro invisible for a few
moments; for it is certain that rome considerable time elap-
sed era the savage uttered his all-:Xpre—Hive " Ugh!"

ePompey kept hi~ eyes Open until he saw the red—skin
glaring down upon him, and then he shut his orbs as tightly
as if he wl re exp;cting to hold a fly beneath each lid. At
the same moment he drew in a long breath. stoutly resillved
to hold it until the Indian went away. But as See md a ter
second passed, his discomfort rapidly became OVei'wlu-lming.
But he he‘.d out like a hero, until ahsolutely human nature
could do no more. Suddenly he gave a tremendous putt,
somewhat alt r the fashion of a lahorinu szc-aiirciigine.

“ Gosh hang it! darl no use tryin’! If l’d kept in any
long r I’d busted l"

The Shawnee indulged in a huge grin as he discerned the
African stretrh8d out upon the ground, his eyes rolling, and
his great white teeth chaliering with rear.

“ Ugh! come out—me kill."

 

 
 

18 LEW wnmzmt, THE SCOUT.

“ Oh, good Mr. Injin, I love you ’most to death. Please
don’t hurt. me! Oh, good Mr. Injin, please don’t hurt a fel-i
ler like me i”

“ What. do hwre i"

“Plume (l- n’t hurt me. I come along, good Mr. lnjin
jes’ In kw-p (l6 rest from hurtiu’ you. You can ax any of
'em ii I (l tln’t.”

What wuulrl hnw been the ultimate re<nlt of all this it is
imhoSsihle to my, but there can be liitle duHht hut that the
nwru wwxhl huVe b «In tonvahmked Lad net. :1 peculial
“'llthil' attrnwei the uitvnt (in 0‘ {hi lmli-m. Wiihnut fur-
ther Il()‘.l()!ll;_{ the supplicu It he leaped away in lhe Woods.
uttering a telly t0 the signal, and disappeared almost in-
Blfli'ltly.

Pompey tank advantage of this opporiunitv. Tle left that
part 0! tlw nt‘lglllml‘llmnl as last as he could travel, and
continual walking all night.

The whule (li~'tance back to the settlemvnt was made
alonewithnut encountering a single I uman bein g. A kind
PrundeDCe wa'ched nVeX‘ the poor ivllow’s quiSL‘DS. The
first man he saw was the sentimlot the tnwn,who discharged
his gun at him, exiiusing himsvlf on the plea th it he was so
dmk he though! it was night itzelf, and fired his gun into it
to clean out the barrel.

    
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

LEW wnmzaL, THE soon‘r. 19

CHAPTER III.
ms RENEGADE.

The renegade stooped and narrowly examined the marks
which his dog had made in searching for the new trail, but
as he had been to the spring once or twice, and had gone in
many‘ other direc‘ions beside the one toward Kingman’s re-
treat, it was impossible to follow up the right one.

It was now getting dark rapidly. Already the shadows
of the wood were growing darker each moment, and blend-
ing together.

The renegade moved cautiously about, peering at each
spot which hejudgetl possible to contain a human being.

“ Don‘t ’pear to find any, though I shouldn’t wonder if
thar’s two, there ’bout. Like to know where Nero is.”

He stopped and called again his brute, but, of course, he
came not.

“ Beats the devil whar that dorg am!" he exclaiml d,
somewhat nettled. “ I’ll have to Wollop him when he
comes home ag’in.”

it was now so dark that his form was quite indistinct to
Kingman. The latter saw him stand a moment and then
soliloqnize: _

“ N ow, s’pose there war some teller hid under them bush-
es, l'e’d have a fine chance to bring me down, wouldn’t he?
Thunderl I didn’t think of that all the time I’ve been stand-
in’ here.”

This sudden disc0very appeared considerably to afl‘ect him,
for he turned on his heel and'dieappeared in the darkness.
Pete Johnson, the renegade, was perhaps as incarnate a mon‘
ster as Simon Girty ; but, added to his crimes, he had a fail»
ing which the other great renegade had not. He was cow,-
nrdly and fearful of his personal sa’etv in lntlle. G rty, no
one will deny, was a brave and daring fighfet', and was otten

 

    

2O

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.
perfectly reckless of danger, while Johnson invariably
showed the, white feather when in peril.

Darkness had now settled over the forest, and Kingman,

having greatly recovered, stealthin emerged from his hid.
ing-place.

l

R

“ Yes,” he muttered, looking toward the spot where he 1

had last seen his enemy; “yes, there was a fellow under a
bush, and nothing in the world would have given him a
greater pleasure than to have sent a bullet through that
black heart of yours. Never mind ; you reward will come
some day.”

And he turned and plunged in the forest.

The spot where the battle recorded had taken place, was
in Sciota Valley, but a short distance from the river of that
name, and toward this Kingman bent his steps. He could
hear the shouts ot the savages, and see their lights flitting
through the trees, as they moved about in the vil'aw.
Some, he knew, were still absent in the forest, searching for
prey, and he was yet by no means out of danger, as the riv-
er bank would probably to watched the whole night. ' His
wound pained him now more than usual, and he was fearful
of a tever renewing itself before morning.

He took the rchr bank, for by fol owing this he would
avoid that singular mistake which persims lost in the wild-
erness so often make—that of coming, atter a long time,
back to the precise spot from which they started. The
Soiota emptied into the Ohio, and by following its banks he
would in time reach the settlement, as Whetzel and the
hunters had done some time before.

As he approached the river, the moon was shining upon
it, and he could plainly discover the dark line of the oppo-
site shore. He hurried along the bank in the hope of find-
ing some Indian canoe, but was disappointed. As eVery
moment was of value to him, he commenced his homeward
march at once. For a mile or s) be kept within the Wood,
until. judginz‘that he had gone far enough to be beyond «lun-
ger. he took the sl ore and hastcne'l onward. F :r a mile or
so the beach was s nnposed of a hard, graVellv sand, which
made the walking easy and pleasant on such a warm moon-

 
   

LEW wnnran, THE SCOUT. 2

light night. Kingman could not help congratulating him-
self upon his own pleasant lot, when he reflected upon the
fat of so many others, despite the severe and troublesome
wound he had received.

“ Yes," to ‘ Xrlaimed, hailf‘aloud, “I‘m in a fair way to
get home again, and I thank Heaven for it. If I should hap-
pen—-liello l” '

The luttwr oXclamntion had good reason for its utterance.
In Coming around a sharp bend in the river, h lmd encount-
erul n S :anee Indian, and the two stood face to face!
They Were not fiHy feet apart, and each appeared equally .
aston shed. As Kingmnn stood, the moon shone upon his
bar-k, So that his features were cone-soled from his enemy,
while the face of the latter was as distinctly visible as at
nounday. Kingman saw his large, dark eyes glowing, and
11‘s whole countenance working with passion: but suddenly
it changed, and losing; the hold upon his knife, a grim smile
came ov:r his sw.-1rthy features as he said in a low tone,

“ You scare Long Tom, Pete. He tink you oder man.”

King‘nmn saw in a moment that he had been mistaken
for the renegade. His drcss was similar, and his stature
about the same, so that it could not be wondered at.

Without losing a moment he availed himself of the mis-
take. ‘

“ Wal, lreckon I did scarce you, Tom! Waghl wagh l"
he laughed, imitating as nearly as he remenbered the rene-
gade s tones and actions. ~

“What scarce me for '4‘"

“Cause you was fool enough to git scart, waghl
ain't there no more of Injms with you 7"

“ Long Tom all alone.”

“ Wal, he won’t be long.

“Why tink so '3"

“ ’Cuuse here’s us'll send him whar thnr are more. Wal,
I will.”

“ Sunzl Long Tom where i"

“ Yivu’ll see in a minute. But what made ye come down
this Way alone, Tom? Ye mought ov met some 0’ the
white men.”

But

 

    

22 LEW WIIETZEL, THE SCOUT.
“Dammel wish me had.”
“ What would yon do?”
“Me do so,” and the savage made a motion with his
hands as though he were scalping a lierson.
“ You’ve cmne a good ways lookin’ fur him, wagh l"
“ Me go tnrder.”
“ Thar won’t he need of that."

“ Why, white dog round here 2" eagerly asked the Indian,
approaching nearer.

uEAPTER IV.
snnnomvnnn BY PERI].

This conversation, as will probably be seen, was purposely
carried on by Kingman in order to throw the savage off h‘s
guard. An encounter he saw was unavoidable between
them, and Kingmun, in his wounds] state, was fearful of
the consequences to himself unless be employed some such
stratagem as this. .

He glanced at his rifle and saw he had preserved the
priming from loss and moisture.

“I think the woods are full of the whites, Tom. Haven’t
you seen any i”

“ Only dem shoot in battle. Me no find my in woods.”

“1 seed one hid in a tree. We], I reckon I did.’

“You kill him I”

“ That’s a purty question to ax Pete Johnson. Thought
you knowed better, Tom, than that. Et‘ Pete didn’t raise
thar liar hootylul then smash me.”

""Ehl flx ’em did, Pete? GoUd!” added the savage ap-
proaching still closer.

The Itwo were now within ten yards of each other. Kings
man feared a discovery each moment. ’

" Would you like to shoot a white, Tom 2‘”

“Eu? wouldn’t ‘I‘om serve him so quick 1” replied the sav-
age, again going through the motions ol scalping in the air.

 
    

i
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LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.
“ Wal, just look ’cro:~xs the river. D m’t you think there

is something there that looks suspici )1}.- l”
The un-u<pectinq Indian turned and gazed in the direc-
tion indicated. At the same moment he heard the click

g of ICnmnao’s rifle.

As he turned his alarmed gaze aronnl he received the

' bullet fml in the heart, and with a wild yell sprang Several

feet in the air.
"The savage saw at once the treachery whirh had been
practised upon him, and in his denthstrnggle, as he was, he

1 hurled his tomahawk with tremendous force at Kingman.

So truly was it aimed, that a mere accident may be said to

t have saved his life.

He had only lowered his musket, and the barrel was still

‘ before his breast.

As the weapon whizzod through the air it was driven di-
rectly at Kingman’n body, but in its pasmge it encountered
the gun-barrel, emi-ting a stream of sparks at the concus-
lon. and glanee'l off several yards into the river, and fell
with a loud splash.

“ T'm-re, Long Tom, I didn’t want to kill you, but I had
no choice. I feel sorry for you.” said Kingman, as he saw

 the savage clutching the sand in his agony.

He avoided looking at hwn, and rapidly passed on, hoping

, to get beyond so sickening a sight.

Had the savage been any other than a Shawnee, King-

 man would have felt more pity for him; but he Well knew
 that the whole trouble upon the frontiers was owing to this

‘ same tribe.

i Centimnt then than the Shuwmes.

In fact, it is a question whether a more villain-
Ous tribe of lndims ever (‘Xisted npon the North Am ricau‘
They had figured in
many of the blacktst tragedies of the “dark and bloody
ground,” and their very name for a long time was one of
the greatest terror to the settlers. There was no compact,
however, sacred, no treaty, however pledged, t'2at they

 hesitated to violate.

lee

' ‘ien first known, their hunting-grounds were in the
iades cf Florida and the adjoining c =untry. Here their
‘ e, treacherous disposition became at last 80 uubea

 

 

24 LEW WIIETZEL, TIIE SCOUT.

able to the other tribes that the Clioctaws, Cherokees, and
most powerful tribes of the South united together and
sworn eternal destruction to them.

The S awnees stubbornly maintained their ground for a
numhor of y:urs, until, seeing that nothing but dvc'm ition
or utter nnnihihition remainel to them, they gathered to-
gether an l left their hunting-grounds t‘Orever.

Jouri‘eying northward,they reaclml the Ohio in time, ‘ ‘

when they deterininel to settle. There Were bro-id, waving
prairies, and deep, glorious forests, where the deer and buff-
alo ranged in thousands, and bright, flashing rivers. in which
the fish sported in nzyriads. The Wyundots (as friendly
then, when a mighty nation, as now, when the miserable
remnant of one) welcomed them, spread the deer-skin for
them to sit upon, and smoked the calamut as the token of
et- rnal friendship.

Here the Shawnres grew to be one of the most powerful
tribes in the whole North west, and at the same time their
vindictive, Mold-thirsty dirposition seemed to increase.
None were more active in the old French war. and none
more ditfioult to bring into Wayne’s treaty, when forty years
afterward the war on the frontiers was believed to have
been brought to a close. '

After the celebrated victory of Mad Anthony, the Shaw-
nees remained peaceful for a dozen years, when they again
broke out in the well known war under their renowned
Tecums-sh. As this is a matter of history, it is not necessary
further to refer to it here.

, Of course, it is not to be supposed that this long, digression
passed through the brain of Kingman alter slaying the
Shawnee before him, for the good reason that one half of
the events mentioned had yet tnken pl-ice. It was now on-
151750, and the Shawnees were in the full tide of their
strengtl , and had received no check from the pioneers.
K mm in only remenbered that the Indian he had slain was
a S .aWneo—his moat mo'tal enemy. v

The moon was new high in the heavens and as hej inrney- 
ed along the shore, its light was so intense as to render ill“
(lute perilo is to remain so exposed.

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LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT 25

Once or twice the long, low howl of the wolf was heard
faintly in the distance, and the shrill, human~l ke cry of the
panther s.)ut.de(l fearfully nigh. The fat-t that there Wt‘I'O
01h rs than tuman enemies in the. wvotl made him hesitate
about plunging into it. As he had itse'l his am'nunition, he
had also thrown his rifle away, so as not to be encumbered
with it, and with no wtapon but his knife, he was in no
condition to run into danger.

But at last the low, gravelly beach tvrlninated. The dark
overhanging forest, with its matted undergrowth, reached
down to the water’s edge, and his path must now lead
through to this tangled maze.

As he stood hesitating whether in his present exhausted
condition it was best to camp for the night, or to continue
his j‘vurney, a bright thought struck him. Directly before
him lay a small true, Shivered by lightning. It was partly de-
cayed, light and buoyant, and Could be easily shoved into
the water. This was quickly done, and he once more re-
turned to congratulate himself upon his success. The water
was warm and pleasant, and as it was a cool summer night,
much warmer than the air. The sap‘imz contained a num-
ber of dead branches and knotq upon it, and being consider—
ably lighter than Kinsman at first suppoSed, he was ab 9 to
float upon it with scarcely more than Wetting h 3 feet.

Fat‘gued and exhausted as he was, he found a heavy
drowsiness gradually creeping over him. lle had had little
sound sleep for the pat ten night, and his «Xertions had
been so great. t at he fe t Certain it Would be impose ble.‘to
resist the feeling. So, placing his limits so securely among
the branches as could be done he gave way to the feeling,
and prepared for a pleasant night’s slumber.

G iding unresist ngly along with the smooth current,
with nothing but the gentle, liquid rippling of the liver
around, and the bright moon OVerhead, and the sullen, hol-
low roar of the forest on shore, no one conld resist the
drowsy goddess. Slowly but surely uncon Cl0|l<neSp was
creeping oyer him. Sky, forest and wattr were mi gl‘n; in
a delidlltful confusion from which he felt no desiri- to mpg.
rate them: and as all things were a>suming that hltmlmess

 

    

26 LEW WHETZEL, THE scour.

which precedes our passing off into sleep, he was startled
and recalled 'to his senses by a sudden shock. Starting up,
he saw that he had struck against the. upper end of a small
'sandy island, and the tree had remained fast. It required
but a few m ments to free this. and once more be was fioat<
:ng gently with the current. This time he slept, but he was
destined to have a startling awaking. His wound mide him
feverish, and all sorts of fantastic visions were dart'ng
through his head. Bears, Indians, renegadcs, and dying
friends. passmi continually before him, and fin-illy, after a
fitlufhour‘s sleep, he partially awoke. As he lay languidly
stretched on the tree, striving to set things right b 'fore him
a peculiar cl‘tekling no se sounded in the watt-r. At firs t, it
Named a part of his dreams, and he took no furth r notice
cfit; but it continued regular y, and was evidently ap-
proaching. He waited a few moments, until th proughly
IWakened—he raised his head and looked about him. The
moon Was pouring a flood of light upon the l‘th‘I‘, so that the
slightest object was discernible. As he turned his eye to-
Ward shore, he disc lvered‘a canoe, propelled by a single
man, rapidly bearing down upon him. He leuked hurried-
ly at the person, and was satisfied that it was no other than
Pet- Johnson the renegade.

“ I’d rather see the bear, or the devil, than you,” was
Kingman’s mental ejaculation as he quietly dropped off the
tree, and commenced swimming toward the opposite shore.
He did not believe the renegade was after him, or had dis-.
coVered him, but was only crossing the river; and, as he
was likely to pass rather uncomfortably close to the tree, he
thought it best to get out of his way.

But so :h was not the case. As he turned his head, he
B'IW that the canoe was pursuing him. Still hoping that the
he had not been seen, he came up a dozen feet away, and
Commenced swinming in an Opposite ,direction. But the
canoe was after him. no mistake.

“ No use, ole boss, I’ve got you this time i” exclaimed hr
in the bout. ‘

“What do you want of me i” demanded Kiugmau.
“Keep 011', or I’ll shoot you."

 
    

    

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LEW WIIETZEL, rm: scour. 27
“ Wagh ! wagh! You will, eh? Blaze away, if you can.
Come, you might as well knock under and go ’loug docile,
for there's no airthly help for yer.”
As he said this the canoe shot rapidly ahead again, almost
Upon him.
The la ter again dove, and came up directly under the

stern of the canoe, where he hoped he would not be discov-

ered. He felt he would rutherhe shot in the water than‘
fall into the hands of the rent-glide. ‘

Heming a movmient in the bout, and fearing 'discov ry,
11601de his feet together to sink again; but, bifore his
head disappeared beneath he was caught by th) hair,
and in spite of way resistance he could offer, was pulled
into the canoe.

As he was pulled head 1oremost into the omoe, he fully
eXpe-cted to he brained upon the spot, and more than once
his head rang w t l the ex »ectation of the blow. He lay for
a mom'tnt on his face, without moving. In his feverish,
exhausted Condition, what resistance colnld he offer to the
heroulean strlngth ot the renegade? Ilis clothes wt re wet,
at d clinging to his shiv ting body, and a more miserable
bell]! pro‘iahly “GVL'I' existed than he was at this momsnt.

Astonished at. t .e silent-e of his enemy, he raised his head
and loooked up. Instantly one of the loudest, heartlest,
most ringing laughs he eVer heard greeted his ears.

“ Wal, Kingtnan, you‘re the most dolet‘ul-lookingP rat I
ever heard on! Why, who’d you take me ‘or? IInl ha!
ha 1"

“Why, Abram Mofl‘ht, is this you i’,

‘_‘No, it’s me. How are you? Give us you paw for old
acquaintance."

Not the renegade. but Kingman's old friend was sitting
betore him. Th;- very person of all he wished to see.

“ Where in the name of creation did you come from 3"
asked Kiogman. a?

" And where, I may ask, did you start 'l’"

‘“ Why, you known well enough. I was wounded in the
battle, and have been trying to reach home.”

 

    

28

LEW WHETZEL, THE RCOUT.
look.

“ No, onlv a part of it. I believe I stand a chance of get-
ing a ride the rest 0' the wny.”

“ Yes, a slight chance if you behave yourself, and don't
juiin nvirhmrd anugtry to paddle 1ft"

“N » danger of that. for l am about u<ed up now."

“ Yes, lcan see that you are; let‘s pull into shore and
start a fire." .

So saying, M vfi‘ut turned the head of the canoe, which
had been fine, ing down the current all this time, toward
shore, and in a few moments its prow struck the land, and
they Sprung out.
h‘gh time that Kingman was in other hands. [Iis expo~ure
in the water had hastened his chilling f ver, and the strain
which his system had 11: dergnne now sufferdl reaction, and
his condition was fast becoming critical. In a few moments
Moflht had a bright fire hurtling (luwu in a ravine’ or h-d-
low. where it could not he easily se. n until w thin a few
yards of it. He saw Kiugmru’s condition, and hunetlia'ely
stripped him and gave him a most vigorous rubbing, umil he
wad all aglow with the circulation. Ile examined his
wound, and tound that it was not at all dung-mus, hut
Deeded dre~sing. T-‘is he hastily dd, and then wrapping
him in his owu blanket, he laid him near the fire and main-
tain (I watch hhnsrlfuntil morning.

Nothing occurred seriously to alarm our two fri'mds
through the night. Once or twice Mofl‘it heard the distant
bay of ihe Well and the piercing scream of the panther, and
sew-ml tiinrs, as he lOHkHl up, he could sve the fiery eye-

I-bnlls of sonn- wild beast ularing through the hu~l1rs above
him. Then nppurently alter Wondering at the meaning of
the unusual scene, they withdrew, and thr-ir retreating steps
could ' e heard, while the continued font'a‘ls of othar beasts
Were audible diitil daylight. But Ihe fire W:I.~‘ a life-guard.
N0 deniz n oft e forest dare cross the blTile'g ring, no mut-
ter how sight it Wm; and when the fa nt streaks of morn-
ing illuinined the eat the lllxt hupetnl loitefei took his de-

parture and disappeared in the “cod.

“ Trying to swim all the way i" asked Mofl‘at, with a sly!

 
     

 

It was now near midnight, and it was 3

 

  

LEW WIIETZEL, THE SCOUT. 29

Kingman slept sweetly and heavily—so heavily, in fact,
that it was broad day when he opened his eyes and gazed
wondering about him.

“ How do 5ou feel, George?” asked Mofiht.

“Oh l—is that y )u, Abe? I didn’t know you.”

“ Han many more times are you ghing to ask whether I
l am what i am? But that ain’t anSWering my question—-
‘ bow th you feel [in

“lee a new man, as I am,” replied Kingman, springing

triumphantly to his feet.
1 Not a trace of last night’s fever remained. pThe restless,
 bloodshot eyes Were now calm and Sparkling; the red,
: throbbing face was cool and glowing; and the shivering, ex-
; hausted trame was now firm and graCeful. Mofi‘at had tak-
en him just at the proper moment, and the fever had been
broken and the equilibrium of the sy~tem restored. .

“ Wal, you do feel right, eh? Glad to hear it; Hungry i"

“ I’m slightly of t at opinion. I feel, just at this moment
as though I could eat a Shawnee, tomahawk rifle and all.”

x—r——-wu—-,_~H
a

 

CHAPTER V. *

THRILLI'NG ADVENTURES.

Mofl'at took his departure in quest of game, and soon re-
turned with a. wild duck, which'he had managed to approach
unobserved, and kill with a well-aimed stone, there being to
much danger in firing his gun. The bird was speedly oohk-
ed and eaten, with the keenest of appetites upon the part of
both.

~ “ 110w,” said the ranger, “as We ain’t exactly sartin of our
neighbors, we'll seperate for awhile. I’ll go to the le t and
you to the right, and We’ll ane again, by that point of
bunk1 \v ich )ou remember is about a quarter of a mile
down the river.”

There was some risk in this, although, with proper pru-
dence, there was no need of either running int ) danger. Ac-

 

  

 
 

    

30 LEW WHETZEL, ma scour.

eordingly they separated, and each taking the rout designat~
ed by ti e scout, and moving with the stealthy trend of pans
thers seeking tln-ir prey.

They had been Separated about fifteen minuti s, and each
was advancingr silently cantioudy and. stealt ily, win-n
our hero suddenly disc. \ered an Indian in list war paint ap-
proaching. As quick as thou;ltt the young man “ sprang to
Cover,” by darting behind a large t ak tree. Tne tree behind
which he was sheltered was, as said, a VH‘y large one of
the oak species. The protect‘on of the ShaWoee was much
sma ler, and barely StI'VL'd to CUVel‘ his body; but it was
enough. and all he desired.

Kingman sto d a moment, as if to decide his course, and
then he walked with a stealthy tread about ten feet from the
tree, and droppel upon the ground. In doing this, the tree
had been kept in a range with the Indian, so as to still screen
his body, and his purpose was unsuspected. He now sank
flat upon his face, and c inmenced Working himself s'owly
backward, his eye fix (1 upon the tree he had just leit. and
his whole caution (Xorled not to deviate from the range.

Had the savage once caught a alimpse of his tnovem nts,
it Would have been a'l up with Kingnmn. As it was; t'ie
S’.aWIiee was ha't cXpecting Some strutngem or treachery,
and never once removed his gaz; from the spot wh. re he
supposed his victim to be; but so consummater had our
hero arranged this that as yet not the remotest suspicion had
crossed the mind of the savage. He was, however, doomed
to peas a more fearful ordeal than he yet dreamed.

The Wood being open, and the ground devoid of the thick,
tanglid undt-rgr uwth so common in some other parts, King-
man Was compelled to use the most extreme caution that no
mismovement was made upon his part. As he procwded,
the friendly angle he made with the tree grew less, and the
ground that was safe for him c-insequently more narrow
each moment. More than once he found himself deviating
from the line, and almost exposing himself. His progr. as
was very slow and Went-imtns. The distance hecesaary to
be passd before he could rise to his feet was considerably
over a hundred yards, and not half that distance was yo”,

".i.

   

 

l

LEW WHETZEL, THE scour. 31 _
uossed. Whenlnear the center. and mt, ving 810W]! and
painfully along, Kingman was startled by his feet coming in
contact with some hard subs'ance, Turning his 222», he
63 v a rotten and decayed log lay direr-t'y across his path.

This was a new difficulty to he go , dver, or gout- ar unnd.
But [here was no time for hesitation, and waiting but a
sec in l, he 1 ft -d his feet and commenced pnkhing himself
owr. H s lolv passvd over sa’ely, and, feeling consider-
ably relieVetl, he recommenCed his novel retreat. But he
had scarcely taken a step, when he heard a sound beside
him that made his blood tingle with horror. It was the
Warning of the rattlesnake! Glancing furtively around,
Kintlman saw the reptile within six feet of him. His scaly,
glittering body lay coiled like a rope, and from the centre
his head, terri‘ile in its beautv, was some eighteen inches,
and was drawn b‘le, readv for the fatal strike. The tail
0n the outside of ti e horrid ring was gently swaying, giving
forth that deadly rattle, and the whole body seemed alive
and excited. Hardly a more terrible spectacle can be con-
,ceived than that of the coiled and bristl ng rattlesnake.

' The one in question was about five feet in length, and was

gathered in a circle of a foot in diameter. The head was
drawn back in a glistening arch, like the neck of a swan.
As he lay, a patch of the sunlight broke through the tree-
tops and rested upon him, making his whole b fly to g'istr-n
with a thousand brilliant variegated colors. Ilis eye shone
wi h a malignant L'litt r, like the ray of the star through
the dark cloud, and his t ngue flushed with lightning-like
rapidity round his flat, sWnying head. S » rapid and incess-
ant Were the m.»vements ol th‘s, that to K9nzztnan it resem-

. blv d n‘liny stream of bright red blood cros~inz the as k and

head in every t'it'tcti in. Several times the cavern ins jaws
Were dist. filled, and the white tang-,_ loaded with venom,
conll be seen curving inwar l. and 3% pointed as a needle.
Kiogm in S|W all this in 1 as time than it takes us to de-
scrihe it. His first movement, upon seeing the reptile so
nigh him, was an involuntary recoil, which had well discov-
ered him to his human enemy. He felt the double danger

\ that now menaced him. The rattlesnake had warned him

 

 

82 LEW WHETZEL, THE scour.

once, and in u minute would strike. He coald spring to his
feet, and, with a little dexterity, avoid him; but, in the
place of the sluzgish reptile, the swift bullet of the Sh lW-
me 0 HM not he avoided. No; Kingman mnde up his mind
that an encounter w‘tfh the reptile was preferable to one
with the vindictive Shawnee.

Favored by the lo},r over which, as will be remembered,
he had just passed, and by still bring in perfect. range with
the Indian, Kingman rose upon one knee and grasped his
stick with both hands. It was a d-ingerous movement, and
he durst not‘turn to see whether the savage had noticed it.
But it must be done, and he could not remove his guz: from
the snake, whose head now rose and drew back seveiul in-
ches, and whose eye glittered with tenfold brightness at his
own threatened danger. He now rattled for the last time,
and drew his neck back like a bent b w, when the stick of
Kingmun fladied through the air so rapidly as to be invési-
ble, and struck the reptile just at the junctiOn of the head
and neck. Any other snake w0uld have dodng the blow,
quick as it was; but this species, besides being sluggish. is
easily killed with a slight wound. As it was, the force
with which Kingmau struck was so great, and the blow
'0 Well aimed, that, incredible as it may seem, the head was
stricken clean from the body. Kingman heard it snap,
and, as the trunk spurted its hot blood on him. saw some-
tl.ing spin like a ball through the air, and tall SeVeral yards
away.
leaves, and the month gaping to its utmost extent.

The instant the heal of the rattlesnake was severed from
his trunk, the body doubled in a knot, and then whirl .d
with lightuin z-like gyrutions in his horrilile ngouyif Fortib
natclv tor Kiugmnn it took another direction, and still
writhing and tWIsting, it shot off among the trees.

The greatest immediate danger was now _rid of, and King-
mcn betOok himself again to (scnping from the ln‘llil'lo
When be fully realized the imminent peril from which he
had been delivered, a svrt of desperate reaction came over
him, and he grew reckless and careless.

made the rest of his retreat on his feet, steeping very low'

A glance showed him the head writhing among tue ‘

He turned and}

   

  

:‘omq—qmam-_._.

5393650

  

w‘ww'

(DU

 

  

LEW wnm‘an, THE SCOU'I 33

and moving quite rapidly. lie was, however, unobserved,
and reached another small ravine, for which he had so earn-
o~tly wished. Down this he boundel, and ran for the
river. 

“It ie the opinion of this gentleman" that he has gotten
into about enough trouble from leaving broad trails for the
Shawnves, and he proposes another plan.”

With this, our I ero Stepned into the water and again
commenctd swimming. He did not strike for the channel,
for this Would have been certain destrucdon, but continued
close 31 mg shore. Heavy branches of trees and huge Unsh-
es th-r hunt.r the water for fiftet n or tWet ty feet from the
shore and afforded an alm ’st impenetrable protection for
him. Bent-arm: these he gently swam, and was he” carried
by the current, catching at the leaves and twigs within his
rent-h.

When K‘ngman andMofl‘ht separated, a: mentioned in our
last t-huptur, the l .tter concluded that before making his
retrent sure, it was bet to determine more definitely the
whereabouts and intentions of the Shawnees. With this
purpose he proceeded tarther down the ravine and crossed
it in the qame place, and a few minutes after Kingtnan’s
pnr~uer did; so that three individuals moved over nearly
the same Spot, and at nearly the same time, without one
suspec‘ing 'he presence of the other. t-xoept in tne case of
om- ltero. Kingmnn reached theopposite side of the ravine,
and he reasomtded it fir several hundred yards for the pur-
pme of mot-rtnining the preci<e position of the Indian above.
This necesm ily rvqu red some time, and W'IS OtllV put-tin ly
sticgesstgl. He approached nigh enough to he r the “ 11 hi”
ofa savfige in conver ntion with another, when he deemed
it best to nuke good hts retreat.

The fact that the Shawnee; were still watching above he
considered as evidence th it his stratagem to in~ure the es-
cape of Kingman had been yerfectly SUNX'szUl; for, if
they sn-~pec : d anything. the; would not still be lying in
a-nbueh as they Were. With theue'tltoughm, he now made
his way toward the river for the lost time, trusting to come
upon Kingman and the boat. He reached the river at a point

 

  

 

 

84 LEW WHETZEL, THE scour.

behind the Shawnees, pursuing our hero, so that the two
latt r were below him on the river. It was singular that
the three should be in such proximity and still ivrnurant of
the othir’s procee lingd. The appearance of M fFit upon
the ground would have made a muttrial diff. rcnce in the
programme of aflairs; but such was not dest ned to be the
case.

Mtfi‘at took a careful survey of the river bank, but of
course saw nothing either of Kingman or the boat. Not
doubting, however, but the latter had made off with it, and
was waiting at some point lower down for him, he proceed-
ed Onward. Scarcely a hundred feet lower he saw the boat
lying under and fistened by one of the ovahan ging bushes.
He was considerably surprised at this, and feared that it
angered ii for Kingman. IIe waded out and examined it,
There w! re no signs of a struggle having t k~-n place. and
1h: oars lay precisely as they (ii l when he left the hunt. him-
self. Still, only partially satisfied, he st 'pped inln it. shoved
it out clear from t';e bushes. and c unmenced rowing down
stream. The noise made doing this reached the ears of the
Sha vnee above, but did not succeed in drawing him from
his watch; for, as the reader has probably noticed, he had
find his heart upon obtaining Kinamau’s eralp, and was de-
termined that nothing else should draw him from it.

Kinsman had rowed several hundred yards as silently as
possible, when he was startled by hearing a mavement in
the bmhes, He dropped hi; oars instantlv, soiz -d his rifle,
and sank into zhe bottom of the boat. Fixing his gaze up-
on the shore, he imagined he could see a. dark b :dy half in
the bushes and half in the ~water, struggling as thou 3h it
wounded. Not daring to fire. he rowel w thin a short dis«
tance, and called outj 1st loud enough to reach it:

“ ls that you, Kmnmu?" '

“I am or that opini n. What‘s the news '2"

“ l havejusr ft and a poor dou. half drowned, in the water.

“Why dvm’t you pick him up, then ?”

“ Atraid he might swim away, ifI should try.”

“Try, and see whether he will.”

Mofi'at rowed up to him, and took him in.

  

Hlflflr‘n—M—lAn—AL1A..

Au

dflrdfln—amfi

O

  

    

LEW WIIETZEL, rm: scour. 35

“an pull for the other shore,” said Kingman, “for I
have had enough ot'this for the present.”

ln going across, nothing m-cum-d to alarm them. and

our two friends to ated to (*:l(',ll other llH‘ll‘t'El)‘ rit-noo slut-e

they parted. Mollht gave it at his opinion that Kinguum

‘ had had quite an :tdventure—something that Would do 1'0
tell when they got home.

“ But where do you suppose that Shawnee of yours is ’l”

1 asked Mofi'ztt.

“ I suppose he is watching behind that tree yet,” laugh-
ed Kingman. “ You haven’t told me yet how you came

: by this canoe.”

, dropped their doors with which they were carryin

“ Oh, there is little to tell of that. When our expany

the

I Injin fort, and I found every man was for himself, and all

for no, I thought I’d try a journey on my own hook. So

I dug,r for the woods unti' I supposed l was clear of the

crowd, when I made tracks for the river. Just livfore I

» got there, I Come ’cross two little Injin hoys—Iittle devils

: then shot and finished them.

out shooting our men and learning to sealn on their own
hook; and, would you believe it, the COnt'onnded imps had
a Couple top-knnls they had haggled off of some poor fel-
low’s head. They found them half dead, I suppose, and
They dld‘t happen to have

’ loaded their guns yet, and the way I walked into their

meat-houses was a caution to hears. That split in that
rifle stock came from splitting both their heads. I laid
’em out stark and mi“. so that there‘s no likelihood of
their lilting the hair of any more ofour hoys fora Consid-
erahle time. Wad, as their guns wnn’t of any use to lllt‘, I
let, ’t-In alone, and just took their ammunition, and went
on down the river. Alter going a half mile or so, I stum-
bled onto this (-nnwe pulled in snuflmder the hank. As
the owner wasn’t ahout to ask l)\l'llll85l0ll,1 borrosz it
until 1 Could return it. ~ _

" Wal, I spent that day pulling‘down the river, keeping

 Close under the shore, and watchingnll-fired clcse for Injin

 

Sign. I didn’t see anything Worth noticing through the

‘ day. and at night I run into shore, tuzned the canoe over

  

 

    

36

LEW WIIEI‘ZEL, TIIE QCOUT.
me, and curled up for a snooze.
then “as so many Inusketoes, and I {'rlt so kind of all-
overish, that l crawled out tight, and squatted on top of

The air was so warm and

tin boat. I hearda gun go oil" and that started my nerves.
I~2tt \\'2ll(‘irllllg the rin-r a good long while. The moon
wa< shining so liright that I vould see anything asplain as
day. I’urtr soon a tree Come float inq down, and I thought
I send an lnjin‘s head in it. Thinkingr as how it might he
the one that owned the canoe, who was looking; for it, I
launched it, and when out, I :iitemh-(l to apologize. The
moon shone so hright, thatt {fin-e I got to him, I seed it
was a white man. Therestfiou know.”

By tl’t time (turfrieri '  Feat-lied the opposite shore.
IIvre, ter a Slinl'tiiltlnii (suggest caisultation, they deter-
mined to keep th‘ezriver 88;%n&"98 fi‘ilSSil’le- 'Accfl‘i; ."gly
ther again shoved into the stream, and continuewim‘, on
their Way. '

  

 

a. 
GHAPTERWI.
AT THE SETTLEMENT.

The (iisasht‘ggus termination of the battle of Chilicothe
was asevere :hlovyfiitp the Settlements along the frontier,
and none, perhafl'ifelt it; more than our own village. De-
feat. was not dreatnerl'ol with such ardent, tl'nnpq‘ and un-
(lt'l‘ the leadership of Colontl Sandl'ortl, and thoexperieno-
ed Indian-lighter, ‘VhetZel. Ilhtt'ntl 0! giving: a (:lu ck t0
the savage (hpredations, this really added an impetus.
The Shawnees and several ttihes united, and under the
llilrtlllfllles of their chiefs and leaders, finally lmlit‘le that
the whites could hes I driven from their grounds for"
ever. The great Tecumseh had not aris‘ln yet to Bt‘t'k to
EMS the im-vitahle tide ttft‘Xll‘l'lilillflllllll with his master-
1y w-nius. hut the warriors were as numerous and their in-
tentions as deep-rooted.

Could some such man as Tecumseh have arisen at this
time, the Indium wars on the trontier would have been

:‘OOD

"£099

AmaanH-dmfl'

  

4'5

map-bu.»

._._‘

r“ v

truly-1W"th-

gbloody groum.
{all were opposed to the whites,

 

: the settlement.

LEW WHE'I‘ZEL, THE SGoUT. 37

.

much more bloody and tormidable than thev were. Many
of the tribes were at variance with each other, and some
of the sew-rest battles ever fought upon the “dark and
'” were between the rival tribes. Though
they could not unite
against them. Their lenders were too short-sight: d, and in
Spite oi'their utmost efi'orts, the tide of emigration still
rolled Westward.

Long and anxiously was the return of the volunteers
looked for. The sentinels at the block houses Continually
Watehed every point of the forest and river, and the deep
interest felt in the result of this expedition was shown by
all. Finally a few days afterward, a couple of stragqlers,
Worn and haggard, emerged from the wood. and entered
They were immediately surrounded by

I'numl)er.<,eager and anxious, to whom they related the

 sud particulars of deleat.

.est battle I ever saw tough

Several they had seen fall up-
on the battle-field, but who were shot or wounded they
Were unable to tell. The retreat had been so disorderly

'and confused that the two in question had taken to the
'Woods together, and made all possible haste for home.

In the afternoon, Captain Parks, Prentice, and all of
the volunteer-t, except Pompey. and the killed and our
two friends, returned. From them the full particulars of
the battle were Teet-ivcd. Those who esr'aped the mas a-
cre had made a rapid retreat for Pennsylvania, so that the
Settlements “'(‘1‘0 "Haiti left to their own proIeC' ion.

“But where are Kingman, Smith, and Moll'tt? I don‘t
see them among your number,” asked the minister, Ed.
Wards, of Captain Parks.

“ Smith 1 S:t\V killed.
that madcap, Kinglnau, are.

I don’t know where Motl‘at and
Isaw them both fighting

‘ like devils, and suppose if they ain't sealped, they’re snout-t

ing around the Country stnnewhere. Umph l the all-tired-
['3’

“ Very unfortunate—very unfortunate.”

u That; Whetzel is a trump, and understands what he in

, about, but the men hadn’t a. chance.”

 

    

38 LEW WHETZEL, THE scour.

“The boldness ofthe Indians will no doubt be lncreao
ed hv their triumph.”

“I don't know as their boldness will require much in‘
crease, hut the way they n'nlked into the retreating Soldi-
Crs (lid medit to their cruelty."

"This is n sad thing: ifKingmnn is lost. He was a fine
nohlo hrnrted, promising young man, and his loss will be
(lei-p‘y lelt by all. But, beside his parents, there is one
to whom the blow will be terrible."

“ \Vho is that l”

“Irene Stuart. You know her. She came with you."

“ Yes; but why should she feel it ?” i

“ There is something more than friendship “—

“ Umphl I understand. He‘s gone in there. Yes; I
“I‘l'il‘rsidtllti. Bin I don’t be'ievc he’s gone under, because
his being absent at the some lime with Mofl'ut shows pretw
ty certain that they are together, and they do say that
that long,
of the ground is one of the best Indian fighters in the ports.
He can‘run like a deer, and is us cunning and wide-awake
as that M ngo, Logan.
but he'll bring both out all right.”

“I do earnestly pmy thnt he will. Irene asked me to
inquire when she heard some ol' the men had arrived, and
I must now go to her. You think, then. there is nothing
wr mg done, if I encourage her to hOpe i”

“ 01' Course not. I won’t believe he‘s (lend if he don’t
come back for a month,_ unless Moll'at comes in and says
he snw him go under."

“ If you have nothing to detain you, suppose you go on
to the house. The fonnlites ni‘c Vrry nnxious to get the
pnl‘liClliul‘S, and I suppose your n il'e is 10oking with much
concern for your reappearance.”

“Umph l not much, I guess; but. I'll go down with you,
fox I happen to be most coni‘uundcdly hungry.”

    

 

epimlloshanked fellow thnt I once kicked clear '

No ; I think they’re in some scrape ‘

LEW WHETZ EL,’ATHE SCOUT. . 

CHAPTER VII.
WAITING AND WATCHING.

The result of the battle had one salutary effect upon the
settlement: it gave every one a true sense of the danger

: in which they all stood. Thus far they had relied too
" much upon the good-heartedness of the Indians.

They

 now saw their m;stake, and remedied it before it was too

; l'rzt‘,e_

Most of the men set to work. and in a short time a
double row of firm pickets enclosed the settlement. Al-
though l:urie/l deeply and firmly into the earth, of course

3 they were not impregnable; but they were a protection

Which few set'lements on the frontier Were willing to do
without. They enclosed the settlement in the shape ofa
square. with a block-house, well manned, at each corner.

A scout, whose principal d’uty was to skirt along the
Ohio and Watch the movements of the hostile tribes, Came
in a short time after the battle and reported that a flat-
boat, with some thirty persons on board, bound for this
Settlenmnt, had been enticed into shore by a white man,
not more than a dozen miles up the river, and every one
tomahnwkedl

The scout believed that the renegade was no other than
the notorious Pete Johnson. who figured in our account of
the battle of Chilicothc. Girty was at the bottom of the
affair and had gchn strict and positive orders that no
white man, woman, or child who tell into their hands
should he .~p:rred!

This seout's present duty was to visit the settlements

along the frontier and Warn them to make preparations
for the worst. The Indians were evidently Concentrating
to strike some decisive hlow against civilization, and woe
to the villages whose sentiucls slumhcrcd and who were
found unprepared.”

,Jl’

 

x ‘ t

40 LEW WlIETZEL, THE scour. ,
There could no longer be any doubt ofthe intentions of‘
the tribes through the whole territory.
“ A war, and a long and bloody one, I fear, is unavoid-
able.” remarried Edwards, in Conversation with the, snout.
" It must. come to that, sooner or later,” replied the lat-

ter. "and I don’t see the need of putting the, thing nth.

Them Ivjins have got to lose about half their number, and
get must. eternally bummed hetoue they’ll holler ‘ enouul..l
I go in forgiving them pathcular fits when we undertake
to t“) ll.”

“ There have been rumors that Colonel Clark is to march ;

against them with his Kentucky Rangers. Do you know
whether 'such is the case ?”

“I think he will—since this battle he will be compelled
to. I hope the colonel will do it, foi he ain’t the man to
order his men to retreat when they get the upper hand of
the red cowards.”

“Provided they do get the upper hand,” smiled the -

minister.

“ Oh, no danger about that. The colonel understands 

Indian fighting, and he’ll show some of it, too, when he
undertakes it.”

“Something better than their last Colonel, I hope.
Umph !—- couldn’t be any worSe," remarked Captain Parks,
who had just Come.

“ Wu], mistakes will sometimes hnppcn,” said the scout
in extentmtion ; “ and I s’pme that Colonc Sundl'ord’s was
on > of them; but that don’t shift. the Hume, tor all that.
He made the blunder, and Would, like as not, do it again,
and ct'insequently he ain’t fit to go into Injin ground.”

I “The Whetzel brothers render great serVECe to the set.-
tlement, I understand.” observed the minister.

“They are. regular teams.
manage matters, there'll be no mistake made; he knows
all about Injin ways.”

“The Shawnees, I believe, are causing the most trou-
ble 3”

“Them imps are at the bottom of the whole trouble
we‘ve bad. They have ain'uys been mean and ueg

  
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     

840:

d

-——o.-—-¢=H

If they’ll let Lew Whetzvl I

itl-j
nth‘
.t-:
.rr. :
.tl ‘

[Ii

he _

i

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. 41

enough to do anything. and since Simon Girty has got
among them. they‘re nothing but a set of,devils let loose
Upon nirth. It’s the incl," fldtletl the scout", as he noticed
a look of (lisplee‘ure upon the minister’s face. “ It’s the
the fact, I say; them Slmwnt-es are the biggest set of vil-
lains that ever walked on two legs or four either, for that
ml|t'el..1,

“ I suppose that this renegade has a great influence over
them i"

“A great influence! Well, there 3” repeated the scout,
gesticulnting very emphatically, " There ain’t it Injin chief
West 01 Pennsylvania that can do more with his tribe than
he can, and there ain’t a single chief among the Shawnees
who dare persist in opposing him. No, sir.”

“ Girty I knew when a boy,” said the minister, “ and I
have prayed many a time for him sinCe. Although a dark
and guilty man, he is a brave one, and Wns led to forswear
hisrnCe on account of the brutal treatment he received
from them. I have often wondered whether it were possi-
ble to win him back again." _

“ ’Win him back again .’” repeated the scout, recoiling a
step or two, in perfect amazunent._ “ No, sir; never. A
greater monster never breathed, and as long as he lives his
whole aim will he to reVenge himself upon us; and what
is worse, he isn’t alone. There’s thnt Pete Johnson, as big ,
a devil, and a bigger cowmxl, and a half dozen others. "
among the Injins, who are ever setting them on.”

“ Uniphl they’ll get ptlltl for it yet." \

“ But I see the day is well along,” remark -d the scout,
“ nnd I must be on my way to the other settlements.”

The rnnger, alter a few minutes further conversation,
let't our friends, and departed. The Words recorded took
p‘ncu the next (lny afzer the battle describ; d in a preced-
ing chnpter, and up to this time nothing hml been heard
of Mofl’ut and Kingman. During the interval Pompey had
Come in, who of course knew nothing. Their prolonged
absence oceasionetl the most painful apprehension. All
but Captain Parks were extremely doubttnl of their return
and Kingman’s parents were compelled to believe that

 

 
 

    

42 LEW wum‘zsr, THE SCOUT.

their promising “ George" was lost forever to them. Thai
sad uncertainty of their fate cast a gloom over all the set‘i
tlement. i

But there was one upon whom the blow fell. as the min-l
ister remarked, with double weight. The gentle, blue-i
eyed Irene Stuart and the daring George K ngman had3
long been plighted—plighted in hearts, but not in wmdfii
All had seen and undersoood the claim which he had up- 
on her, and although there was many an admiring eye!
cast upon the lithe and graCeful form, yet none pretendel 
to dispute his right. All gave way, and pronounced the t
handsome twain “ a fine match.” i

Irene watched with a straining eye for the form of her 
beIOVed to appear among the returned. None other than 1
she who has experienced it can understand the painful
doubt, the distressing uncertainty of a heart in such a
situation: and when the fatal knowledge, like a blow of
death, strikes all at once, then it is that the soul feels its
great agony. As the good minister communicated gently, i:
and with an air of hopefnlness, the the tidings tnat Motlat '
and Kingniau had not returned, she felt her heart sink ‘
within her. The ininster noticed her sudden paleness and i
faintncss, and hastened to remark.

“Oh, my child 1 you must not take it thus. There is
good reason to believe that your friend is living, and will
yet return."

“ Did anyone see them fall 7” she asked. in a voice so i
calm that it was frightful.

“ Not at all. Gavoon, who was killed, was seen when i
shot, as were most of the others; but no one noticed our
friend.” '

“Then there is hope i"

“To be sure—to he sure. Mofl‘nt is very skillful, they
say, in savage ways, and has been deliw'red from so many
dreadful dangers that it can hardly be supposed with new ;
son that he has not escaped from this.”

f‘But why do they remain so long away i”
“Many reasons llli;1l|i(i(‘lttill than of wh ch we know ,

 

N‘.‘

 

 

 
 

?

43

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.
nothing, child. I have hy no menus giVen up hope, and
I think it is not wrong for me to encourage you in hop-
ing for the best.”

“I will try,” she remarked, faintly, as she arose and
Went to her room, where she might indulge her sorrow in
Secret.

u . The good mini<ter had arisen to depart, when Mrs. Stu-

art itlll'l‘lcti into the apartment.

“ Ah 1 how do you do, sister 2” he exclaimed, extending
his hand. Q

“Pretty well in body, but wretched in spirit. 0
few know thehorrors and sufferings we nervous women go
throth for the men‘s sake.” - "

“ What is the trouble now I” he asked, with an air of
solicitude.

“What is the trouble, do you ask? Why, isn’t these
uwtnl times now, with these savage India'is murderng and
linckmg people. I expect, just us like us not, they’ll mur-
der us all inour homes. There‘s no telling wlmtthey won’t
do in this heathen country. Lord of messy! I should
think they had done enough now."

“ Ah 1 my good sister, you must be more hopeful. The
Lord will deliver us from our peril. Remember there are
strong and willing hearts around you.”

“ Yes, that‘s a slight consolation; but then them Injins
will do ttlmOst anything. Only think how they run off
with George Kingman.”

“ But that is not certain yet, by any means. Many oth~
erg, including mysel , how: not given up our hopes of him
yet.”

“ Oh, he’s gone, you may he sure of that. I’Ve been up
to see Mrs. Kingmnn. She felt a little propped up, I be-
lieve, hy wlmt, the people hud Enid; butI t0 (1 her there
Was no use in hoping, for he’d got. into the hands of them
heathens, and they hacked him all to pieces.”

“ And what did she sny to that, my good sister i"

“ Oh, she burst out a cryin’ like, and wrung her hands
laying us how she feared so all the time. It‘s always so;

0

dear!

 

  

 

44 Lriw WHETZEL, Tum scour.

we women do suffer nearly everything for the unfeeling
men. Yes, oh, yes 1”

A sort of hysterical sol) and whimper followed this, but
in a moment she reviVed again.

“ l have one consolation, at any rate—we Won’t see any
of them nas'y Indians in heaven, when we get there.”

“ Don’t, say that, sister, for I hope and expect to meet a
great many there.”

 

#
CHAPTER VIII.

HOME AGAIN.

The prolonged ahsence of Kingnian and Mott-rt, to say
the least, was certainly singular. Several days had now
clasped since the battle, and if they were in the woods. or
had escaped the vengeanct- ot_' the Shawnees, there Could
he no reason offered why they had not made their appear-
ance. The most. sanguine began to doubt—all deslmtred
save the captain, who, when questioned, replied with more
than his usual protervity.

“ He’ll come if you only wait. Umphl I don‘t see any-
thing to worry about.”

The fifth day wore slowly away without any tidian of
the missing ones, and darkness was again gathering over
the qttiet village. There was an air ofsuhdued repose up
on even-thing. The quiet tree-tops were not. swayed by
the slighte~t ztphyr, and the hroad Ohio gli~tened like a
sheen ol' silVer as it llowed without a ripple hencath the
horzontal rays ot'the setting sun. The dark forms of
the sentinels could he seen at the block-house", and here
and there a quiet settler Wentlml his Way throu h the un-
gainly streets. The few cattle and horses were gathered

home, and all were ready for the slow approaching night
to close around them.

Irene Stuart stood at the open door of her Cahin, as she
had every evening since the battle, gazing vacantly out
upon the Ohio.

The last rays of the sun were shooting

    

  

  

l
l
l
t

    

LEW WllE'l‘ZlCL, TIIE scour 45
brilliantly over the treetops and illuminating them with
a golden glow: the hum and noise of work around her
had (wasted, and the niouruful stillness harmonized well
with her Sad and niournl'ul thoughts. It Was easy to tell
where they were. It was easy to tell where they had he!“
eVeiy night when she had stood thus, lost in communion
lt is Stunt-times hard beneath the
When unz ng

with llll‘lll. most, con.
vine nu proof to helieve that one is dead.
upon the form of some cheri~hed one, dressed readv for
the grave, a strange douht Will smut-tunes come over us,
that there is still life Within him. The most improlmlile
theories will present themselves and have a hearing. Per-
haps we imagine that he is only feigning death, and will
yet arise and speak before fastened within the coflin; or
We may experience a. faint, tormenting part of that awful
thought of burying one alive, and our tortured imagina-
tion conceives of the unutterable horror of his Waking
within the tomb. Then, again. a. hope that there yet is
power in medicine suhtle t-nough to win the soul hack,
sustains us to the brink of the grave. A thousand con-
flicting: thcomes—perhaps in D.vine Providence—prevent
Us from fully realizing the truth as it i8.

Hopes, fears, doubts. constant and intensified, had had
continual play with Irene. Sometimes when cold, com-
mon sense had its S‘Vlly, it curied with its overwhelming
evidence the conviction that George Kingnian was lest
forth'r to her. Then instantly a thousand contingencies
would present tht'tliselves, and'her heart Would thrnh tu-
mu mous y with the hope IhUs awakened. These Conflict-
iug feelings had told upon her, even in the short time
since they had held alternate region. There was a VaCnnt
Wandering, expression of the eye, a languid llSllesSnt'ss of
manner, and an albent unctiu ciousméss to What was pass
ing nmnetliate‘y arou (1 her, that show unmistakath the
deep hold these thoughts had upon her. Sometimes she
Would stand as motionless as death itSell', with that ex-
pressinn 0! the eye as though gazing at the clouds in the
horizon miles away. And 0mm When qUestioned upon
some difi'erent subject, her reply would relate to the all-

 

    

g.
46 LEW WHICTZEL, THE scour.

absorbing topic of her mind, she would move like an au-
tomaton among the living, scarcer hceding a word or
movement. of those around.

Her parents ltl'()ll()llll('t‘.tl her conduct quot r, and tru tt-d
she would soon get ovt-r it. The good minister h't-que tly
visitt d the hon-e. At such times Irene would be her-ett'
again, and would cheer up and (:otIVersc about “llili’t‘Vt‘I'
wits propoSed, gradually verging to the one great topic,
however, until, at the dcpai titre of llt'l‘ triend, she “as
compleuely lost again. The worthy man understood fully
her case, and used every means he Could devise to win her
from the fearlul control of her feelings.

Irene was standing in an attitude of earnest meditation,
as was said, at the door of her cabin. Her parents were
absent, so that there was nothing to prevent her relapsing
into one of her unconscious spells. This was the reason
why she did not notice an unwonted noise in the village--
this was the reason why she did not hear a con fusion of
voicos a short distance away, and the reason why, when a
form flitted past her vision, it made no impression upon
it; or more properly, the impression was made upon the
retina, and the optic nr rves sped the intelligence up to
the brain; but the brain had took mttch other business on
hand, and took no notice of it whatever

A confused, Waving field was Irene Stuart’s vision at
that time. There was that peculiar, indescribable confu-
sion 0! forms and colors which one sometimes eXperie ce
during a mental aberration. All unimaginable figures
doubled and disappeared within one another with noise-
less eeIt-rity; objects neVer dreamt of before took form and
motion, and her vision finally became a gorgeous mixture
of light and darkness, of shadow and sunlight, and of
of lorms and colors.

But atnid all these, an object gradually took shape. At
first it had the tippt‘ttl‘tlllne ol a long, dark, undulating on].

umn, directly in the centre of her field of visimi. It sway-

ed geutly from side to side, as though agitated by a pass-
ing breeze, but the base still maintained its place without
motion.

Slowly, almost enough to be imperceptible, it

 

 
      

 

 

u:

58

"cu. n—al

 

m-‘ _

4 —__...._._,__. _

LEW WHETZEL, rm: scour. 47
diminished in size, and the airy figures around grew dim-
mer and more ohscure every moment. Once or twice it
seemed'agthough some sound proceeded from the shalt,
hut Irene heeded it not, although her gaze still remain d
from a languid unwillingneSs to remHVe it, Ti“!th “P‘ln
the dark oliject. Suddenly it diminished in siZe to that
oh). man, and the first thought that had anything of vig-
or in it was, that it hurt: some resemblance to a hunmn
form. By a seemineg desperate effort, she roused herself
and looked intently at it. It was a human form.

" \Vhy, Irene, how long belore you are going to speak
to me ?”

“Oh, Gem-gel is it you i I was thinking so deeply l”

“Thinking ’I thinking of what i” asked K ngmnn, ap-
proaching and taking one of her hands, and looking
senrchingly into her ricn blue eyes.

“ Why, thinking ol'you,” she replied, impulsively.

“ Th nk Heaven 1” he added, in a low tone, as he em-
brncwl her lerVently, and ha fcarried her within the cal)-
in. For a moment Irene was totally overcome; the great
strain which her system had undergone now suffered a
reaction, and she was as weak and lwlpless as a child.
There seemed an utter abanonment about, her which iade
her a dead weight in Kinginan‘s arms: not a dead we‘ight,
either, hut a live one, and for that m tter our hero felt
perfectly willing that it might be thus for any length of
time. He hrushed the dark curls from h r forehead, and
kissing it ardently, drew her head down upon his shoul-
der, where for a few moments the SOi)S enme without re-
Btl'aint, But she shortly TCCK)V('I'C(1 herself, and he allow-
ed her to withdraw herself from his arms and seat herself
beside him.

“ What made you remain so lon away 'l” she asked,
With a deep, y owning look whicu Kingmsu felt.

“1 Could not help it.” i

“Could not help it? Why not ?‘ Were you hurt i”

“ A little; not much. hut so much that we could not
trawl fast without danger.”

“ Was Mofl'at injured i”

 

 

48 LEW WlIE‘l‘ZEL, TlIE scour.

“Not in the least; and had it not been for him, it is
doubtful Whether you would ever have seen me again.”

“ 0h, George, you do not know hoiv many times I did
think sol Mother and father and your lolks all thought
you must. have been killed. Captain Parks said you Were
not, and Mr. EdW‘ards believed you would y«-t return to
us. Iprayed that you might, and yet it did not St‘Clil
that you.—I am so ulad l” and she gave one of those soul-
l‘ul glances that it made Kinginan blush at his own happi-
HOS“.

“I thought perhaps you might think rather strange of
my absence ”

“ Rather strange,” she interrupted, with a reproving
look.

Klngman drew her head over upon his shoulder, and
pres-Sud her ardenlly to him. She sprang to her teet.

“I must look upon you again," she laughed, “ for it
8061118 hardly possible that you are really here now. Yes;
I believe it is George K ngnian, alter all.”

“And as I have some doubt of the truth of my eyes,
permit not only to i0()l( upon you, but to taste you,” add—
ed Kingnian, risingéuid imprinting a kiss upon her burn-
ing cheek.

“There, that will do! Now tell me where you have
been all this time. But does any one else know you have
returned 3’”

“Does any one else know I have returned? A fine
question to ask when I have been in the village three or
four hours.”

“ That time ? Impossible 1
ing 1’“ .

“ Cin-ulating among the neighbors. Moffat and I have
bven here a long time. I went home and the folks acted
crazy. I thought motln-r would fgo demented. I never
knew she thought so much ol me before. As luck would
have it, Captain Parks was in, and he made a great time."

“ Veiy glad to see you of'Course ?"

“I suppose so; he just gave his “ umph l” and said he
Wus beginning to respect me. A little while after. Ed-

 

‘Vhat have you been (10—

   

  

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. . .. -n... AWN---“
www.mh

l
l
l
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l
l
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,

 

 

 

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. 49
words, hearing, I suppose‘ that I had arrived, came in.
He gave me one i f the heartiest grips I ever had, nnd told
me that. het'ore I stopped to see my parents, I should have
knelt down and thanked God fir my pireservntiou.”

“ flow like h‘ml Wh-it did you answer?"

“I told him I had already done so. He said it gave
him p‘ensure to hear it, and he hoped I would rememher
the One who new-r forgot me. Well, after it little talk,
he smi'ed in that pleasing wuy of his,nnd suid he was
just thinking there was some one else who would like to
see me. I asked him who he Could mean, of course, not
knowing who it wa<; but he looked so mischievous, I
know 1 bhiShed and showed that i knew well enough who
he meant. So nfter Some more conversation, I left and
Cllllle here.”

“How long ago i”

“ A good nhi‘e, indeed. I Came up an silently as poss-
ihle, intending to give you a surprise. When I cinne up
to the door, i saw you standing in it, nnd supposed you
lmd seen me, so I laughed, (‘flllt‘d you by mune and up.
pronched. You did not reply, and I was frightened to see
you look so.”

“'l‘o St'c me look how ?”

“Why, so much like death. At first I started, and al.
Infist helicvul you \\ ere dead—you appeared so white,nnd
ymu- eyes were tixel upon the clouds away 03' in the sky.
I lipflkc again, but you made no answvr, and I was afraid
to uppumt'll yon. I thought perlmps you Were asleep. and
in 3. fit of somnnmhnlism, and waited to soe if you moved,
Bv_m“]_|,y. you reniemlu-r, you did, and finally saw me
winding Iwfin-c you. What did it mean, Irene? lluve
you ever been thus before ?”

“ I suppose so, several times. At any rate, I have been
spoken to about. it.”

“ Were you really asleep.”

“I‘don’t know, George,[ have been filled with such
(Natl-easing doubts about, you, that it mnsr have caused my
my singular actiens. It seemed I couldn’t help it, mad 3

 

  

    

5O LEW wmc'ran, TUE SCOUT.

was afraid I would go crazy. Perhaps I have already,”
she laughed, looking up into his lace.

“ I run glad and yet very sorrv to hear this, lrene,” said
Kiugmun, pressing the ilfleCli(ln‘ltC girl to him und draw-
ing her hen l down again upon his shoulder. “I am glud
for it shows me unmistakably that my love is returned;
and I uni Sorry because it shows that it may have hud a
sad t-ffect effect upon your system. You must get over it
now.

“ I hope I shall, as the cause is removed.”

“Not l‘elnt)th, for it strikes me that he is nearer you
this moment than he has been for a number of days.”

“Then if the cause is not removed, the cure has been
applied, I suppose," smiled Irene.

“Yes. one or twice; another npplicntion cwnnot hurt,”
added Kingnntn, applying his lips to the cheek of his fair
companion.

" But, George, you have not told me yet the whole par-
tit-ulnrs ofthe battle with the Indians, and the terrible
suffering you must have undergone. Let me hear it now,
will you l”

“Just sit a little closer, then, as I do not wish to talk
too loud.”

Irene oflrred no resistance as Kingman drew her close
to him, nnd, twming one arm around her, commenced the
recital of his adVentures. The night 11nd now Come on,
and the room was dark. save where the mellow moonlight
stremm-d within the half open door. Not another soul
was in the house, save the two lovers. ’I‘lu-re wins a d lic-
ous Feeling that came over both, us they were together,
alone! where no curious eyes were gazing upon them, and .
no inquisitive enrs were bent. to catch their same! words.
Kingnmn proceeded, and, in a low tone, reluted all that
has been given to the render. As he spoke of the fearful
esc:ipe~x he hud passed thr iu gh, he could feel the heart of
Irene flutter pmnl'ully, and she would start involuntarily
when he referred to the sudden deliverunees from nll of
them. The hours unnoticed flow by, and still they sat and
eonvorscd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEW WHETZEL, 'l‘lIE scour. 51

“Did you see father and mother i” asked Irene. a

“ Yes, they were at home, talking with Edwards.”

“ It is time they returned. is it not i”

“0, never fear! they will he a‘nng after a while.”

“ But it seems to me it must he late, for see there is
scarcely any moonlight upon the floor as there was a while
ago.”

“ Something must be in the way —-helloal there I”

This exclamation came from Kingman as he raised his
hat and saw both Mr. and Mrs. Stuart standing in the
door.

“ Why, how long have you been there i" asked Irene,
Spring-ing- to her feet, and hundhng around for the pine
knot with‘ which to light the room. -

“ Not more than a couple of hours,” laughed Stuart.

“Gracious alive? what do you suppose will become of
you ?” indignantly demanded his wife.

“ I am sure I have no idea. Why do you ask l"

“ Just. think what an awful falsehood you told l”

“ Pay, What was it, my dear l"

“Why, that we had been standing here over two hours,
when you know wejust arriveQ. Only think ot'itl”

“ I told no story, my dear. I said we had not been here
over a Couple ofhours, and I don’t think you will pretend
to contradict it.”

“ Well, its all the same,” snapped Mrs. Stuart, bouncing
into the house. Irene, by this time, had succeeded in
lighting the pine knot, which threw out an oily, smoky
light, making every part of the room, however, perfectly
visible. Kingman arose, and after bidding all a good,
night, stepped forth and made his way toward his home,
The sky was clear, and the bright moon rendered ohjects
Very distinct at a great distance. He had nearly reached
his destination when he encountered Mofi‘at.

“ Ah 1 how’s thiq, Mofi‘at‘l Wh'lt keeps you out so late 3"

“ Something difl‘erent from what has kept you.”

“ It is of more importanCe l".

“I think so, as it concerns the wellfare of the settle.
lncnt.”

 

52

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.

“Why, what is it, then? Out with it.”

“There’s something suspicious~like down in this part.
I have been up to felt for an hour or two, talking to the

boys. It was up at that one. I was talking to Tom

O‘D-~.niels, when he pointed his finger down this way, and
aXed me if I seen anything. I watched pretty closely, and
after a while I thought I did. He was going to fire his
musket, but. concluded it wasn't worth while, as it might
scare all the people for nothing. I started down this Way,
and was coming ’long quiet-like, when I heerd you. SO
Ijust rose and come on as though I didn’t s‘pieion any-
thing, and I suppose if there was anything going on I
spoilt the sight of it.”

These words were spoken in a half whisper, but in. such
a manner as to give the idea to any one who might see
them that it was but a commonplace Conversation passing
between them.

“Any idea of what it is i” asked Kinsman.

“I suppose there have been Injins skulking ’bout the
place every night since the battle. The boys say they’ve
seen something going on about this time for two or three
nights. They couldn’t make a mark big enough to fire
at, but the people know it, and don’t sleep so sound as
they (lid before. See here, Kingman, we must watch.”

“What I was thinking. Where shall we station our—
selves 1”

“Not a great distance apart, as we may need to help
7 each other. You go a little nearer the upper fort, and I
will go down toward the river bank and keep a look—out
there. Move careful, for I s’pose you‘ve learned by this
time that a Shawnee has sharp ears.”

“ What signal between us shall call the other '8”

“A whistle like the whippowil."

The two parted. Moflht, as he proposed, m vde his way
to the river bank, while Kingman approached the picket
at a point further above. The town, it will be remember-
ed, wusinclosed by a strong, double row of pickels plant-
ed firmly into the ground, and protected at each angle by
a compact, bullet-proof block-house. Kingman opened a

    

 
   

 

 

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«1......{15

 

 

 

LEW WHE’I‘ZEL, THE scour. 53

Sort of door or entrance, which could only be opened .rom
the inside, and passed out, so that he was in the sp-me be-
tween the two picket rows. Here he lay upon the ground
and listened.

He did not expeet to hear anything, as he judged if
there Were Sha \nees in the Vieinity, they had lound out
they were su~pected, and would not make their appear-
anCe again that. night. But he had scarCely l llll two min-
utes when he heard that dead thumping, such as is made
by several persons walking upon the ground. Placing
his ear to the earth, the footsteps were plainly au'lihle.
The Indians, as they undoubtedly were, approached the
outside picket at the nearest point. to Kingman. Here the
low mumbling of their voices Could he heard, as if in
conversation, but no Words could he distinguished. A
few minutes aft ‘1', and Kingman heard them at work at
one of the p‘ekets. They were fast loosening it, and,
fearful that. they might make an entrance, he gave the sig-
nal for Moffat to approach. The savages instantly paused
as if listening, and then made off, just as Moflht entered
the rlOor behind Kingman.

“ What’s the matter ’4‘” queried Mofl‘at, eagerly.

Kingman related all that had happened, and the alarm
of the savages at hearing his a gnal.

“ What I feared,” said the hunter. “These are bad do.
ings. I’tl bet my life that this settlement will be attack-
ed by Indians to-morrow night.”

 

    

LE‘V VVHETZI‘IL’ THE SCOUT.

CHAPTER IX.
ma mom 'ATTACK.

Kingman and Mofi'at remained on watch the whole
night, but the Shawners did not again make their appear-
ance. Their was evidently Some deep laid plan upon their
part, which they were prosecuting with unumal Caution.
Although there had been suspicion awakened with the
settlers, and their most caretul and experienced men were
deputed as sentiels, yet nothing thus far had been disch-
ered during the day-time to awaken apprehension. Sev-
eral times before, in the history of this settlement, the firsr.
intimation the settlers had of danger was by detecting
savages lurking in the woods during the day.

In the morning, after the event afluded to, the men
were made aware of the danger which threatened them,
and a consultation was held as to what steps should be
taken. The general belief was that a large Indian force
was scattered through the woods, and were making prep-
erations for an attack. Under these circumstances the ad-
vice of the minister, Edwards, was taken; viz.:-—-to. dis-
patch several scouts to ascertain if possible the strength of
tln-ir enemies, and the probable manner in which they
Would attempt the assault, and also for each settler to for.
my his own home, in case they should get within the en-
closure;- ‘

Several old Indian fighters, including Muffat, crept care.
fully in:o the woods, and rectinnoitered tor chran hour.
The result was what was anticipated. There were unmis-
takable signs of a large Indian t'orce. In addition) to this,
Motl'at l'XHlllint'd the outside row of pickets, and tound
there were several which had been neafij severed by some
keen instrument in the hands of the Indians.
part of the enclosure '

No other
.tr-r‘. been touched,

 
   

.. WW#-_-M_ -_.___...~_ _

h 4__.________.___..———

i

 

 

 

  

LEW WHETZEL, run scour. 55

Late in the afternoon,a scout from Bmmes‘mrough made
his appearance, and was admitted. He reported that there
\\'as a. pretty general uprising among the savages. and
Colonel Boone was daily expecting;r an attack. Kenton
was at one of the weaker settlements, as there were alarm-
ing signs of war along the whole frontier, and there was
no certainty who Would suf’fi-r first.

As the night slowly settled over the wilderness, the
pioneers collected in their homes to spend an hour or so
With Ilnir families. The evening meal was scantily par-
taken of, at the close of which all knelt and SH“, up a fer»
Vent supplication tor protection by the Great Being above.
Then, after a. few more words, the females and children
retired, and the men rose and sallied forth to the block-
houses.

Kingman, after leaving his mother, proceeded to the
hou~e of Stuart. Stuart himself was gone, but Irene was
Irene was still watching for him. ‘ -

“ Ah ! up yet i” he laughed. “ You ought to be shed."

“ I have no desire to sleep, and do not intend to, until
the danger is over.”

“ Why, what llt'll) do you suppose you can offer i”

“Perhaps none, but when our friends are in such/dan-
ger, little sleep, it seems, should come to the others.”

“I trust we shall esc:ipe without much trouble," said
Kingman, hopefully. “ There may be no attack, after all

‘ ~it} Silid and done.”

“ Oh, I hope not! There is war all the time. It is
dreadful. I pray it,may soon eml."

“ Keep up a good heart. Irene. So, good by, now."

“ Good by, dear; may heaven protecc you.”

He hastily emln‘thed her, and then turned and joined
the rest. ’

The men congregated, as said, in the different block-
houses, which were so built as to protect the four sides of
the town, while several of their scouts (‘Iltl'rt‘ti the space
betWecn the two picket rows to guard against any artifice
0! strata ,Iem, The Indians were probably aware that the

 

  

  

posts.

the block-houses and communicated with each other.

door there were others standing the same as themselves.
thing in the hour, the occasion, and surrounding circum-

into a sort of half unconscious, dreamy reverie, when she

by their asSailants. It; arose in afiery curve, and as it
turned and fell described a beautiful arch. Ere it had
reached its destination antither shot upward, and another,

56 LEW wnmzrcr., 'rur. scour.

settlers had made preparations, for they deferred the at-
tack until a late hour.

Although the settlers’ families retired to rest, there were
few indeed who closed {her eyes upon that nig it. Done
stOod in the same spot she had hidden adieu to King-
man, waiting and wmchinq with a beating heart the men
as they passed to and fro, or stood motionless at their

Tue ky was full of tumultuously flying clouds, which
obscured the light or the moon, and sometimes threw an
inky darkness over the town and forest. Then, again, it
Would shine out full and clear, and the dark forms of the
Watchers and scouts could be seen as they passed out from

Then, as a straggling cloud passed over the face of the
moon, its shadows glided noiselessly and swiftly over the
village, like a great phantom, shrouding every thing in its
ghastly light.

Gradually the night Wore ou. Irene and her mother
stood ride by side, and when the moonlight streamed
down upon the Village, they could see that in every Cullin

Not a Word Was spoken by any one, for there was some-
stances that made every heart silent. Irene had fallen

Was startled by hearing her mother exclaim:

“ In mercy’s name, what is that l”

The Cause of Mrs. Stuart’s exclamation was what ap-
peared to he a bright stream of fire that shot flom the
northern block-house and ascended high into the sky.- .
A moment’s glance showed it to be a hurnin : arrow cast"

and another, until the air was filled with tlie hissing,
burning nii>siles. They were flying in every direction,
and falling upon the cahius and block houres. For a mo-

  

 

tr

 

 

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. 57
Incnt Irene was bewildered by: the scene, and scarcely
comprehmded it.
“ h, We shall be burned alive t" exclaimed Mrs. S‘u-urt.
The daughter saw that one of the burning arrows had
struck the cabin within a tow feet of her. Here it stuck,
while the small twist. of flame round the head crackled
and snapped in the logs. \Vithout a moment’s hesitatil‘n.
our heroine stet ped forward, and seiang the arrow, drew

, it forth and threw it upon the strormd.

“ Heaven save us! Ain‘t you burnt?" asked her mother.

“ But slightly; hut look, they are falling all around us."

It was true. Everywhere, like serpents of fire, they
Crossed in the air, While Some fell upon the ground, and
others lmrit-(l their keen points in the Cabins and block-
holtSes. Litt e halls of tire were visible in different paws,
and the air was filling,r with smoke. As m ry he suppo~ed,
the females were greatly ala'merl, and there Seemed immi-
m-nt danger of all the cabins heiug ablaze in a short time.
\Vomen began running to and fro, l tucking the arrows
and dashing Water upon their Cahins, while the fiery mis-
siles continued raining down upon them.

“ Don’t beet-art,” Called out Motlat, as be rushed among
them. “Don’t; be scitrt; the~e arrers can’t do no harm.
The cabins are too green to btJrn, and the Injins are too
green to see it. JeruSaIem 1”

This last exclamation was caused by one of the flaming
missiles dropping so close to his person as to graze his
coat or hunting-shirt, and set it on fire. He slipped out:
ijt in a twinkling, and dodged back to the blockhuuse
as fast as possible. His words had alluyeti the panic and

reassured the females, for he had spoken the truth. The

cabins were of such construction that, with one excl-prion,
there was the least possible danger of their taking fire,
and it was the same with the bIOCk-housesand pickets.
The wood in them was still greenmml full of sap. and the
flumc home by the Indian arrows had no etTeet upon them,
except to cause a. slight smoke and a great p-tnic.

This the Indians soon learned, and ceased their efforts
in this direction. A silence of perhaps a half hour fol-

 

  

    

58 LEW wnmzer, THE scour.
lowed—the deep, almost audible silence which precedes
the bursting of the storm. The savages, up to this point,
had givi-n utteiance to no yells, and had persisted to a.
man in remaining invisihle. so that not a shot had been
exulmnged upon either side. Those in the block-houses
had done tlnir utmost to Catch a glimpse of their as<ail-
ants, but thus far had not succeeded. When the flying
arrows made their appearance, they seemed as it' shot from
the branches of the trees, and the wood was so dense that
a most effectual concealment was given all.

The clearing around the settlement, it will he remem-
be:ed, extended several hundred feet, so an enemy would
be compelled to expose themselves if they made a close
attack. As the Shau‘nees ceased lheirefl'orts forawhile,
every settler loaded his gun, for he well knew that it
Would he needed in a short time.

“What’s the next thing on the programme i" asked
Moffat, who was standing beside the minister within
the block-house.

“It is hard telling, I guess,” replied Edwards.

“Some trickery that we ain’t thinking about, I‘ll be
bound. Them Shawnees won‘t give up so easy as all
that." ’

“ Mnfi‘at—see here, Mofl'at I" called a. man at one of the
loop-hoies.

" What‘s the trouble there 3‘”

“Just take a peep through the loop-hole and see wheth-
er there is anything to be seen.”

Motfat stepped forward as requested, and took a scruti-
nizing glance of the clearingr in front. His suspicions were
aroused, for he gazed several minutes without speaking a
word.

“ Do you make anything of it ?” inquired his friend.

“ Shawnees, as sure as thunder i"

“ Pass the word to the others there, and hlaze away.

The pioneers were soon aware that the Shawnees were
attempting to approach them. As they looked forth. they
Could see upon the outer edge of the clearing, their forms
flat upon the ground, and creeping as stealthily as shad-

 

 

 

 

 

LEW WIIE’I‘ZEL, Tm: SCOU 1‘. 59
ows. At the distance, and am mg the stumps and logs, it
Was hard to (lis0over them, and none but a. hunter’s eye
wnu'd have done it. Orders were given to withhold the
fire until they were much closer, and upon the point of
rising for the result. a

Steadily, hut imperceptibly 'to the inexperienced eye,
the Shawnees approached the settlement. They could not“
he SCt'n to move, and the way in Which Kingman judged"
0 their approach was by coiiip~rring the position ofone of
the dark forms with tliatot a stationary object. In ashort
time 9. relative change of position would be seen which
liecanie more perceptible each moment. Edwards, who
Was ' ne of the lea lers, seeng that the savages Would turn
all their exertions toward scaling the pickets or effecting
an entrance through them, dispatched a large numher of
mm from the block—house to guard the block-houses, so
that the guards of the towns Was not weak at any
point.

Fortune faVored the settlers. When the Snawnees were
l“It Coinparatively a few yards distant, the clouds cleared
from the ftht‘ of the moon, and as the moonlight streamed
down once more, the ulemning, «xpectant, up'urned t'aces
0f the lndians Could he seen. All understood that this
Was the moment to tire, and simultaneously nearly a hun-
dred rifles in the ditlerent block-houses hroke upon the
air. As many infuriated yells hroke forth, and Seemingly
from the very ground, scores of savages sprang to their
feet and l'ltshcd toward the plt‘kulF. Here the Cool and
8M: ly conduct of the settlers availed them. It was im-
possible to scale the guard, or either to hum or butter it
down, HXCttpt by vigorous, prolonged lahor. \

The Indians set desperately at work, not heeding the
murderous fire which was poured upon Lhan But. it soon
told too teal-fully, ior every shot “as Well aimed; and
when n, hunter’s rifle helchvd i's contents 3 Shawnee was
Bltre to bite the (lust. The block-houses were lllnelentless
in their fire, and continued to pour their shots in upon the
dark, dancing hodies without. who still kept madly at
Work, howling and yelling like so many demons.

 

 

6O

LEW' WIIETZEL, THE SCOUT.

And all this time numbers kept pouring from the woods,
until there were Several hundred assaulting the Settlement
The attack was made f'rum all side, at the same moment
and Ivy eqna ly formldalde numhers, so that each Mock-

honse had its due Share of work. To add to the confu-
sion, the horses and cattle within the enclosure heoamo
fmnieatruck, and their flfft'lulllé'd snorts and bellowing
Could he heard among the din ofcrmfliet. The discharge
of the rifles was so continued and regular that it sounded
like the tiring of‘ a well-drilled army—platoon at a time;
and thoth it could not help telling fe-u't'ully upon the
Shawna», it Seemed in reality to have no effect.

“Fire quicker, boys, and with a sure aim,” eomman-led
Edwards, in a low tone. “ The pickets will be down, if
they keep on in that way.”

“ Well, here’s a try,” said a. man beside him, as he plac-
ed his rifle through a loop-hole. “I wonder what exreu-
tion this bullet w:ll do ?“

As he fired it, Edwards heard a. groqn, and turning
hastily around, saw the man was dying. An Indian hul-
let had entered the orilit-e dit'eetlv heside the muzzle of
his rifle, and fl nailing along the harrt-l, had struck him in
the faee, shattering his foreh -ad and killing him almost
instantly.

“Take him out. of the way ; there’s no help for him,”
commanded Edwards.

Mnfl'at and Captain Parks (who was also a leader upon
this ()(‘Crt~l()tl,) seIZt-d the poor fellow and quickly drew
him outside the idol k-house.

“ Umph ! his shot. had a dit‘t't-rent effect from what he
thought,” rematked the captain, as he deposited him on
the gmnud and hastened within again.

The Shawnees, with nnnsu:d hrave'y, maintained their
efl'orts, tired to desperation at the rmistanee enCountered,
and seemineg determ nod to force the pickets at all risks.
It was no longer necessary ‘or the hunters to take aim-
in fact, it. was impossihle to miss hitting the indiulls, tiny

Were everywhere— nd Captain Parks finally vrtle-«Itl his

 

   

 
   

 

 

LEW wn-z'rztcL, TIIE SCOUT. 61
men to load and fire as fast as possible, without taking
time to aim.

In the height of the conflict the pickets,which had been
weakened the previous night, yielded to the tremendous
pressure, and the Shawnees commenced pouring in the
breach.

And now came the struggle for life. Once within the

village, and its doom would he fixed fort-Yer. At sight of
the dark forms of the Shawnees struggling through the
opening, a perfect fury took po<ses~ionof the settlers. The
good minister, Edwards, understood in an instant the
can~e ot' the increa<ed tutnu't, and with a yell that might
and would have done honor to a Shawnee chiet', leaped
from the block-house. and flew to the defence. IIis ready,
powm'ful arm was needed, for the exultant savages were
press m: almost irresistibly forward.
’ But the impetuosity of the Indians was their own (le-
struction and defeat. They pres<ed and struggled sti'des-
perately among each other that their actiom were cramp-
ed and rendered of little avail. The pioneers, fired with
fury of (icspel‘tlhiflll, out and shot and hattt-red and knit'ed
them like so many animals, until, in a short time, the fur-
ther entrance of the assailants was prevented by the dead
bodies of their owu Comrades lbit)Ckilig up the breach 1

The crisis of the battle had now passed. There was no
prevailing against the defense of the settlers, and the
Shawnees made as disorderly and turbulent a retreat as
they had an assault. Without stopping to carry the dead
or the wounded, they plunged headmig into the corner
of the woo l.

The dead bodies of the savages were instantly thrust
through the breach, which was eloscd up and bill'l'it‘udcd
as firmly as circumstances would allow. This done, Ed-
wards and Captain Parks returned to their block-house,
leaving a snflieivnt number to still guard the p'ckets, should
the assault he repeated. But tho~e skilled in Indian war-
fare knew that for an hour at least they were safe, as their
enemies would spend that time in consulting upon the
next step to he takn. The wivt:s and children, of the

 

    

62 LEW WHETZICI., THE scour.

hardy pioneers, as soon as they saw that hostilities were
suspen led, hastened forward to See who had fallen in the
Conflict. The deep sigh of reliefwhieli they drew, when
Edwards communicated the strange fzct that, beside the
man shot at the Commenct-mcut. of the skirmish, not one
of the numher was killed, showed the deep, heartfelt in-
te est they felt for all.

Many of the hunters took the occasion to clean their
guns and refresh themselves, while others more cautious,
continued their ever vigilant watch. As the moon per-
mitted, they Could sometimes distinguish amng the prone
hodies before them the writhing Form of some poo: savage
in his death aqonles, and the glam-d stare of the others,
stark and stiff, their features distorted and their hands
closed with a rigid, deathly clutch upon their body or
upon the ground. It was a sad, sotthickeninu‘ Sluili,itl1t
a sight which would pale helore the horrors that Were yet
to he (named along the frontier.

As the night \vore on, the Shawnees from time to time
fired their random shots from their ‘emicealnmnt, hut no
general demonstration was made. Tueir repulse iluti heen
a nmst complete and decided one. At intervals a burning
arrow whrzzted over the pick its and huried itself in the
calvins beyond, as if they still had hope of acconiplish'ng

'the destruction of the settlement, and now and then a
venturesome savage crawled as close to the hlock-house
as possible and fired his rifle at the loop-holes alone; hut
such a daring attempt. was pretty sure to cost him his
own life, as the flash of his gun would discover him to the
Watchful hunters, who sent a Volley at him.

Then many attemp‘s were made to approach the settle-
ment by stratagem. 'l‘he inexperienced settler would he
struck at seeingr a bush upon the outer edge of the clear-
ing, and he would wonder with himSelf that it never at
traeted his notice hefore; alter which he Would he sur-
prised at seeing it much nearer than at first; and wh It: at
3 i059. to explain the curious circumstance, which no extra
ruhhing ot the eyes could do, he Would perhaps he start-
led by the flash and report from out the Very centre of

 

 

Law \VIIETZEL, THE scour. 63
it, and then imminediately the death yell of the assailant
as he attempted to make his retreat to safer commitment.
The", "gain, ohjt-cts so like logs as to ,dt-eeive the eye of
all hut the inth SllSltiCltHlS, would m-tkethcir appearance,
and seemingly rolled by inv'ptihle hands, continue to ap-
pxtmch slouly and arm lr the settlement, ttntil their sud-
. den change of form showed their true charact r.

In many cases We Indians did conceal tln-nrselvt‘s heh‘nd
‘ the logs which still lay upon the miter edge ot the clear-
i":!, and hy Cautiously rollingr them forWard as they lay
extended upon the ground, succeeded in approaching
within a few yards ofthe Mock-house without the least
personal danger to themselvvs. They would thtn make
Several shots over the top of the log and dodge down to
fluid. But they al‘COlllpliSlH (1 nothing at all. and ran
such imminent rish thelnselves of heing shot during their
retreat, that these and similar attempts were finally aban-
doned.

All such artifices were but artifices indeed, which the
prisoners had learned long he'ore. and which could ,not
take them by surprise. The Slithllt‘CS had learned much
from the Mingo Logan, as their attempsof Conducting the
i attack were similar in several were; hut, as we have shown,
they met with such poor success that they finally ceased,
and for a long time not a shot Was exchanged betwoen the
two parties. The whites believe! that their silence was
a ruse to give the impression that they had withdrawn,
and thus threw them ofl' their guard. For over ,an hour,
not the slightest sound or movement betrayed the pres- -,
ence of the Shawnees.

Suddenly the eomhined yell of over a hundred throats
rent the air, with such horrid force as to make the hlootl
of every One tingle‘ and as many bullets rattled against
ti e pit l~Zt‘t9 and Mock-houses. But the settlers Were not

.thmwu offtheir z-uard; they cocked their riflth and held
them pointed toward the wood. But lno Indians made
their appearance. This was another strat-igent, the mean-
ing of which could hardly be divined, if it had any mean-
ing at all.

 

 

 

\

64 LEW WIIETZEL, THE SCOUT.

Finally the settlers saw with glad hearts that the day
was at hand. The east WHS fast. i)CCOmill£{ gray and liglzt
and there would soon be an Olv‘pnl‘illllltt‘ of resting tieir
li:iri-ns.-ed nnd weary t'r:unc<. Edwnrdsmd Captain  its
Would not Shffel‘ one of the men to withdraw until tht. an

had risen above the wilderne~snnd its broad div/1,. at;
light showed the perfect day. Then, as nothngr coul ’ >e
seen of their vindictive enemies, and it. \\';IS pretty Ct in
they had returned to a mun. the majority of the settV-“n
left the block-houses and their stations for refreshment
and rest. It was found that three of the whites had been
killed, and some half dozen slightly wounded. During

the (lay the former were buried with appropriate and sol-
emn ceremony. Stvcral were so disfigured and mangled
that the white sheet which iltld been thrown over them
was not removed when they Were placed within the
ground.

It was in the afternoon that most of the settlers gather-
ed in the Corner of the settlement which had been Setnpnrt
for the resting-place ot the (lend, to witness and partici-
pate in the Ceremonies. The minister read, in it subdued
and feeling voice, a. short hymn, which was sung in low
and mournful tones, and then all knelt upon the c arth, and
his clear, rich voice ascended to heaven.
their feet, he nmde a. few remarks upon the solemn Scene,
and then the three bodies, one by one, were lowered into
sepur te gl’ttVt‘S. In it short time they were covered with
the wd, and their forms blotted forever from the face of
the earth.

The scene in front of' the settlement was horrid and soul-
sickening in the extreme. The Sil'inlt‘eS during the pre-
cedin: night bud succeeded in removing u number of
theirdend companions, but overn dozen still remained
scattered over the clearing and nronnd the closed Drench.
In trumt Could be seen three Indium stretched upon the
earth, stark and stiff, their hands closed with :t dendl
clutch around their rifles, and their fixed glazing eyc
staring lit the b‘ue sky above them. The distigure nent of
their faces was rendered more ginktly by w .r p ti .t tittui)‘

  

As they rose to '

 
 

 

 

 

 

wvr—Invsr

 

L

t ed upon them.

65
The hlood had mixed with this until it
Was impossible to distinguish them, and, as the wound of
each was in the face, some idea mar p~rhnps be formed of

LEW \VIIETZEL, THE SC‘FUT.

r their appca anee. ,Ot ‘ers lay double-l and knotted in heaps

just as when they died. and a Couple were slrelclwd i'uce
downward upon a stump, their arms (innglin :' over. The
grcntest numln-r Were stretched lu‘fore the breach. There
they lzry in evi-ry iumuinnhle position; some as if quietly
Sit't‘liil‘lfl‘ and others twisted and bent into ineoncdvnhle
distort ons, and scattered over theele urine were Coagulat-
ed penis ot hl0od, dusk and murky on the hard earth, and
bright and glistening on the logs where the sun could
reach it.

It was nenr the middle of the afternoon, when most of
the men wvre engaged in the funeral Cl‘l'CIHOIIit‘S of the
(hand, and whin Kinunmn and Moffmt were keeping watch
in the northern block-house. that a curious, ret chnructer-
M .- (‘ir(-,i'n]<ftlli(‘,4‘ took place. M tint. had ~wilted himSelf
f»: it true, wlrivii gm m was still gnzinginteutly through
(me of the loop-holes. The hunter wutched him a few
moments nnd then remarked.

“ It seems to me, George, that something has taken your
eye out there. What is it? Does one of the Shawnee’s
top knots strike your fancy 'i”

“ No; hut I tell you, I ain’t satisfied yet by any means
that. the lnjrus are out of the wood.”

‘- Wlmt‘s up? Seen one? Shouldn’t Wonder it there
waq two or three there; but I’ll bet my life that there ain’t
no more."

“ llu-re is something moving in the bushes yonder. cv‘r-
tu‘n Just twke u look. It is close to that. tree “here you
s‘: t rour fi 3' S awme.”

Moth-u, arose and did as requested.
moment.

“There is someboly there, sure enough, hut I can’t

He answered in a

"'muke him out.”

‘- Shall I not fire, and teach him better manners ?”
“No. You would only scare the women, and it ain’t

 

    

    

66 LEW WIIETZEL, T111: SCOUT.
certain by no means that. there’s an lnjin there, and I make
it a point never fire at a Venture.”

“ Indian it isn’t, sure enough,” replied Kiugman, excit-
eilly.

As they hoth lOokeil, they saw a white man dressed in
the eo-tume ofu. hun er st. p cnulioniv l‘orth uml uppi'OnCil
nm- of the bullies. He sloopeil nnd looked at it u moment,
mnl tlnn catching the heml in his Ielt ilillld‘jt‘l'kt‘ii out
his knife uml had the scalp off in a moment. This he re-
peated until there Were several bleeding trophies Sllspclld-
ed at the girdle around his waist.

“That is cool,” remarked Kingman. “ What business
has he to (10 that '2”

“Settling some old grudge, perhaps, against the var-
mini.”

“A cowardly way of seltl'ng it, at any rate. Why
(lmsn’t he take the live savages insleml of the (leml ones.”

"’Oause there ure none to tnkt’. He ain’t on. m the
chaps us is afraid. No, sir, he‘d ruiSe the top-knot of any
Shawnee, (lend or kicki' g.”

“But this is not the place to commit. such linrlmrities
as ihut, nnd I’ll stop him licfore :.ny of theolhers see him.”

Kingman applied his mouth to the loop-holes, and
shrieked.

“ Hellon there! What are you at i”

The hnt-kwoodsman raised his eyes and 10oked up at
the block-house, but made no reply. He then stooped,
and seiz ng nnother lmlinn Committed the same (lisunst-
ing oulrnge upon him. His 0 oiness and unconCern touch-
ed Kiugnmn, and he culled out.

“ l)i-| you he-ir what I said i"

“ None your business,” retorted the hunter, continuing
his opel'utions us he ore.

“ Cvn‘ounil lion 1” muttered Kingman to Mofl'ut. “I
have n gri-nl notion to give him a. taste ()1 cold lead for
his iniprinlence." .

“ You try it, and you will never pull another trigger,”
replied Moli'at in his tone of deadly meaning.

 

LEW wuu'ran, 'ruz: scour. 67
I “ Why, whth has got into you so suddenly 'i’”

“ Do you know who that. nmn is ?”

“I known he is as much savage as any Shawnee I the
ever yt-t soon,"

“ Wnl. sir, that chap is my brother, and if )‘MI’VO £50.?
any (iiifc'l‘cnr'cs to suttle he‘ll give mu the chance, but: if
, you undertake any trick, Ineru’s his brother, and lhuru’ll
be a dead man in your tracks in two minutus and it half."

“I beg yonr pardon, Abe; I 11 id no idea who the "WI
was. A friend ofyonrs is a. friend of mine, no mum-r who
or what he is. Forgive me, will you? Your hand on it?”

With irne lmckwoo‘isnmn frankness and goml mature.
Aim Mnfl‘nt extended his bony palm, and a genial Smile m
up his countenance.

 

 

 
    

    

    

LEW WHETZEL. THE SCOUT.

CHAPTER X.
ObLu‘NhL 01mm: AND ms RANGERS.

At. this moment the snhjeet of their Conversutimi, Tom
linii‘dt‘ made his appearance at the entrance. Upon see-
iuz: that. he was a white man, he was admitted at once.
“0 strode in with that independent, careless air so com-
mon to Ms rm-epnying no attention to the inquisitive looks
that were met upon him.

The first pi-rmn who met him was Edwards, who had
just, r tn ned from the lunernl ceremonies referred to.

“ Whv. wlmt brings you here t" he risked, With it smile.

“ My legs, I believe. How are you thriving, G eorge t”

“ Very well. How does it go with you '4‘”

“Tolerable only. Had quite a. scrimmage here, from
the looL< ot'thi ngs.”

“Yes; this is bad business—though kind Providence
has Watched over us thus far. His great name be pr ised
for it.” \

“ How many killed t”

“Three only. This is a severe loss; hut it’s nothing to
that, which we were compelled to inflict upon thesehea-
thens who 80 wnntonly awmil us. It. semis thnt they
should learn wisdom by their sud experience.”

“ Any other of the vnrinint Wmth except them Show-
I. new. 'l‘in-y kill and hack :0 much they’re willing tosxaud
it just for the fun."

“ It seems that you have heart indulging in someof their
sewage practiCes,” remarked E lwards, in a tone of quiet
rebuke, as he girlhood at the mulps at the hunter’s Wurst.

“ Yus," he returned, looking complacently down at
them, “1 Sometimes indulge. There W218 such a smart
chance of lio’t’iifting thnt I had to Walk into the bus ness.”

 

 

 

  

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. 69

“It is strange to me that any man professing to be civo
ilzed can commit such revolting crimes that these North
American lndinns alone have the credit for.”

“ All (-dycation—ull cdyc-rtion, George. It went kindly
agninst the grain the first time I tried it, but 1 soon got
my hand in; and, sir, there ain’t nothing l:kc it. I tell
you it’s high, George, to serve a Showuee that Why.”

“ It is horrible, Thomas, and I Would that. you could be
induced to cease it.”

“ Now, have you ever clipped a red-skin top-knot i”

“Me ! Why, oi'conrse not I”

“Then you can’t tell anything about it, my good friend
without experimenting. I and any one else can See what
a disgust'ng”

“ Beg pardon, George, I can’t you know.”

“Any one else can see what a disgusting practice it is.
You have seen it thus. It struck you as such when you
first contemplated it, and you admit that it required con-
siderable efl'ort before you Could bring youISt-ll' to it.”

“ Wal, now, George, it lays all in edycation. You know
what imps these Shawnees are; and where they have done
as them haVe, I can’t see the harm of serving them in the
same way—can't see the difference to save my life.”

“ It’s no use talking with you, I see, Thomas. I am
sorry that you are so Wedded to the practice; but it witl
mnke no difference in my respect for you. We are old
friends, remember, and I am glad to See you any time.
Pardon me for keeping you talking 8o lOng, when I should
have asketl you to rest and refresh yourself.”

“Thank you, George, I don’t need rest. ’Cnuse why?
I ain’t tired. And as for refreshments, I don’t know much
about them.” ,

“ Wel, then, consider this your home as longr as you are
willing to remain with us, which I trust will not be a very
brief period. Do you bring any neWs i” ~
“I have a little, which I’ll give you arter a while"

“ Good or bad—I suppose I may inquire i”
“ Wal, it’s good; so you nee.lu’t wvrry about it.”

 

 

  

  

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.

“In that case I shall not, for we have had enough
glOnmy tidings and doings of‘late.”
“I believe I’ve got a brother somewhere ’iiout these

ingly about. him.

" lie is in the block-house, I believe, standing watch, I
will call him, or you can visit him there, as you choose.”

“ What is he standing watch for? Shawnees ?”

“ For enemies, which are certainly thick enough around
us.”

“ You kin call him, then, for he‘s watching for what ain’t
about. I took a tramp around the settlement afore I came
in, and things is all right."

“ Have our enemies indeed retreated t” inquired a spec-
tator.

“ There isn’t a shadow of one of ’em for five miles around,
except the dead ones.”

“Thank Heaven for that, for we have had enough of
this awful business to last a lifetime. May I ask, friend,
the appearance things bear along the lrontier? You are
a scout, I take it, and are able to give us information."

“ Things look dubious, I must say,” replied the h .ck~
woodsman, looking down to the ground and shaking his
head.

“Any fresh outrages of which we have not heard 2”

“ Not thatI knows on, being I don’t know what you‘ve
heard ; but I can tell you the varmint, especially those
thundering Shawnees, are at it all the time. They are
at BOonesborough half the time trying to Come some of
their tricks over the colonel, and We boys as are ranging
the woods up and down the 'IIio sees tull times—wal we
do. It’s hard fur the settlements and wimmeu folks, but
fur us seouh and rangers it’s big fun.”

“ What is the probability of general war?”

“ It must come sooner or later—there‘s no helping it."

“ Why are you so certain, my friend i"

“’Cause I can see things as they is. If Bowman had giv-
en thcm a regular lambasting when he tried it, you
wouldn’t have seen the trouble you have- - 'm, II: l"

 

parts, or n<ed to how,” remarked the hunter, gazing search:

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
   
 
   

of
ii(
in

 

   

LEW WHETZEL, THE scour. 71

“I have no doubt of it. That unfortunate campaign
has given the Indians a poorer opinion of our strength
and Powers and a much hetter one of their own."

“Just so—exaotly. If them Shawnees could get all the
Otilt r to jine in like, they Won d reel able to sweep “4 clean
from the airth; and I ain't Ct‘l'lnln hutwhat they’d be able
to do it al'ore We got help from the East. But there‘s the
rub, you see, some of these trihes hate each other as much
they do us; and being as they all hate ,us, each one is try-
ing to finish the job without the help of the other.”

“ I see no help, either, except in aWur ofextermination.
It would he a dreadful thing to carry the struggle to the
knife, but I see no other alternative. They have rejected
all our offers of friendship, and are determined to exter-
minate us, and the safety of us and ours absolutely requires
that the Wnl‘ should be carried into their own country,
though for that matter they claim, I suppose, that it is
already within their own country.”

“That’s the doctrine I’ve been argyfying for a longtime
and I think thty’lI soon see it’s got to he done. But it
’pears to me that George is gone a long time for that
brother of mine. Ilellol here they come. How d’ye (lo,
Abe i"

“How are you, Tom i”

The brothers met, and the others feeling the indelicaey
of remaining, withdrew and left them alone. A conversa-
tion, which it is not necessary we shall record, passed be-
tween them.

Tom Moffat was older then his brother by six or seven
years, and Was one of those scouts or rangers whose husi—
hes; it was to skirt along the Ohio betWeen the settlements,
'ttnd to ascertain the doings and intentions ’of the hostile
tribes and to warn the whites when danger threatened
them. The services of sueli men were itiValuahle. There
Was hardly a movement of the Shawnees which they did
fillet discover and communicate, and to their timely warn-
ing, in more than one instance, was the salvation of hun-
itireds owing.

The information which the scout imparted upon this

    

 

 

  

 

 

7 2 LEW WHETZEL, THE scour.

occasion was that Co‘ionefilark had determined, with
his Kentucky RangerQ, to march against the Indians at
Chillicothe, and to liring‘r them to battle. A sunnnnry
chnxtisxuent n11: imperatve'y delnnndtd, and our Sot'le-
nn-nt willingly Vuiulllt'cl'cd to insist their gallant lriends
1n thi- (‘Xltl'tillitilL

(Hiloni-l \‘iul'h’, :i li-w weeks su‘isequent lzo these eventg,
(‘uiitul t-igwthi-r his Kentu -i\_\‘ ll lllg‘t‘l'fi‘, :is [hey \wre tv-rm-
(Hi, or lll:tl(1il n1: :l'irlillhfi tie in inn settlements :lt Chilli-
Cnihe. 'i‘oin Nil-tilt, the seout, conducted his in'xi‘ht‘l',
Kn mum. and h ill n dozen others. thr ugh the wilderness
to join them, us our settlement h (1 already gained quite a
lame for it.‘ readiness in :lssixlillgf such expeditions.

This was in the summer 01'1780. The {zingers collect-
ed together, and headed hy Colonel Cinrk, n gnllnnt and
invxperierced Indian tighter,they renched the Ind an town
a day later; hut the Shawnee runners had apprized their
nntion of the lorce mulching against. them, and when the
villages Were :- 'nehed not eVen a squ:uv 0r puppoose was”
Visible. This was a surprise to the whites, as they fully
expected to meet the combined vnrriors and have a bloody
battle; nevertludms, they determined that the cowardly
Indians should not e~cnpo them.

Tln-ir seonts Were first, dispatched to reconnoitre the for-
esfi, to prevent lii ling into ambush. 'l‘ney reported that
not a SlVilgU was in sight, and it was evident they were
tiioroughli' intiiini lnteil. and had retreated to a sale dis-
tance. Colonel Clark then gave the order to burn the
Indian villnges nnd destroy their (:orlrlirlds. ,

In n in moments the tlinuw from the dim-rent lodge!
inn-st, liirlh and c nununicnted to the others. Tney Were
mode of light, C(Hlli'lbiiilil'll1"it'l'ltli,:liHi in an incredith
short syn-u .it'timo the whole village mu one nuns of
ronrinu‘, ct‘nttlglinu' lidme. "he Slllwhc :LFIClltit‘tl far over
tln‘ mat: tops and gathered and formed :1 dunk, henvy. lnnd,
“'niCiI settled in tne horizon. 'l‘hi'se evidences oft-,niitl.i_-_,~ ‘
ration Were witnessed by more than one Shawnee from his
hiding-place, and he trembled, for he knew what; ajustly'

45

  
 

 

  

 

 

    
 

is-
ne

as
H:
no
of

id, ,

It
Is

hilt

1!:

   

 

 

LEW WHETZEL, TIIE SCOUT. 73
excited people was revenging its wrongs. Not. an Indian
mu-le his :tppetrance while the rangers were at Work.

\Vlwn the lust Cnhin hnd hurned to the ground, the
whites entered the corn fields. A half hour later and not:
a stalk «it com \v,.:-‘~ standing! ii':\'(‘l‘.\‘iltillt_: Was destroyed
up n n'hieh it Was 'l()~>ilfll(5 to lay their hands. ('o‘ov-el
Cl )‘l\’ then gave ordets to remain upon the ground until
the nftet'uooIL hoping that the Shaun es woull still give
lNLlilL’. lint. it was useless; they had apparently lost the
l-rth-ry ti r “hich they had heeome so distinguished, for
they earetully aVoided showing themselves.

Fnally the ranges sit out on their return homeward,
burning and destroyngr everything along th - way. While
reheating, a few ot the inftttiatetl Sitan'nees followed them
and mm ed to pick otl' several of their ntuuher trom t'-eir
hiding-plums in the tree tops and ltttlgtN. An attempt
was made to draw them into :unhus't, which eame Une rm-
fortnhly nigh succeelin 1. So etl‘eediiliy Was it arranged
that, the most cunning and experienced scouts did not
discover it until almost upon it.

Duringr the wars on the frontier, it M‘IS the invariahlo
cut-tom of the white torcus in marchng through the forest;
to keep their scouts constantly ranging the country for the
double purpose of being warned of all atnlmshes and to
gain a knowledge of the enemy‘s movements. These scouts
were often the BaIVation of the whites, and :1 few years lat-
er, when the grt at generals marched with their tin-cos
aua‘nst the arrayed trihes ot' the West. they Were enrolled
Hm] recognized a an ind‘spensa‘ le putt ot‘ the army. 'l‘ne
lu'illaut, and wouderul exploits of sueh men as laptaiu
W. .XVel s, M'Art-tur, Divis, M'Ulclautl, Dotson, \V;l|t:uns,
O-B‘IlllllOll, M'Dtunald and others are found rtcorded m
the history of our Country. .

Several skirmishes took place duringr the hontewnrd
march, and the l':lll‘,Cl'S were constantly harassed by the
Indian scouts following and lurking in the rear. Several
hand-to-hand struggles took place between the whites and
these scouts, and it was not until they Were all within
sight‘bf their destination that the pests disappeared and

 

    

 

74 LEW WHETZEL, TIlE scour.
our friends were allowed to proceed unmolcsted upon their
way.

This chnstisement of the Shawnees wasmost efl‘vetual
and summary. 'I‘lu-ir dt prwl-itions and outrages up to
this point had increased t'iightt'n ly, and scarce a day pass-
ed in which the report of a murder or a lll"Ss‘tt(‘,l'(5 did not
reach the different settlements. Thepower of the settlers,
tlll‘Ollit‘lt the blunder of Colonel Bowman, had been great-
ly underrated and scorned, and there Were many chiefs
who really lwlieved thata vigorous, determined move
ment by the Shawnees alone would be sufficient to over-
whelm every settlement along the Ohio river. But the
expedition just returned had convinCed them of their fatal
mistake. They saw what a comparativr-ly small force
could do against all oftheir numbers, and they had Sense
enough to understand that nothing,r short of general com-
bination of the rival tribes of the “dark and bloody
gI'OlllK ” could offer any check to the approaching tide of
civilization.

It was now the autumn of 1780. The great revolutionary
struggle of the colonies was nearly terminated, and many
were turning their attention toward the millions of acres
of rich land beyond the Ohio. The advent of a foreign
army had impoverished the country, and many homestead
had 1): en razed to the earth and its wealth swept away for
ever. Several new settlements had been implanted ifiit'm
the river above. and the old ones, in spite of the disas-
trous circumstances by which they were surrounded, had
Continued to thrive and increase. lt Sometimes s ems,
when emigration commenter-s to a new eountry like the
West, at this time, that the settlers are without will of
their own, but fulfilling destiny, for no combination of
op; osition, dangers and perils c in check them. Rumors
constantly reached the East of the horrid barbarities por-
petrated, and of the numerous flat-boats that were deCoy-
ed into shore and their inmates slaughtered; and yet there
was hardly a week in which some boat, t‘reighted with its
weak and defenceless load. did not launch upon the Ohio
and turn their prow fearlessly forward.

  

 

 

 

 
   

LEW wn ETZEL, THE scour. 75)

Some of these were victims to the cruelty of the‘ rene-
gades and s-iVages, but their places were filled by others
as hopeful and eager as they had been.

And amid all these lorm‘dable circumstances there
Were meek and good men who hesitated not to brave all
for the pleasure of their good Master. The Moravian mis-
sionaries had penetrated the wi'derness. and the seed
Sown by them Was already bearing good lruit. Numbers
of Indians were converted to Christ. and withstood all the
temptations of the chase and battle—field. Tllt'y remained
touether and engaged in agiieulture, and withdrew entre-
ly from their rude and warlike brethren. It was a beauti-
ful and instructive sight—the one small spot radiant with
the smile of Heaven amid the mighty wilderness, made
doubly dark and gloomy by the hand of man.

The faithful energetic followers of Wesley were already
numbered among the pioneers. They were brave. resolute
men. who could shoulder the rifle and lead to battle,
swing the glittering ax in the foresty or point the way to
heaVen. Theirs was the religion for the time. Freed
from the restraints and Conventionalities of civilized life, it
was from the heart. Its representatives were men whose,
words were plain to the uneducated backwoodsman, and
who never set forth truth beyond their comprehension.

For a time after the expedition of Colonel Clark com-

partive peace reigned along the frontier. A number ot
flat-boats descended the river, and reported that they had
not been disturbed during the passage. This made the
settlers hopeful, and m-nny began to believe war over.
Numbers engaged in fellingr the trees around their settle-
ments, and extending their boundaries; strong commodi-
ous Cabins made their appearance; and some, more Ventur-
some then their tired neighbors, erected their dwellings
in the edge of the wood, beyond the immediate protection
of the block-house, and here they removed with their tinn-
ilies. Emigration received an impetus which otherwise
would have required years.

But matters could not remain thus. The warlike dis-

; l

  

 

    

I

76 LEW WHETZEL, 'rnn: SCOUT.
position of the powerful Shawnees could brook restraint
for a long time.

In the summer ol‘ 1781, repov't< reached the settlements
that a boat. had been stopped near the mouth of the Seio‘a
and all its inma'es—nearty a seore—had In en lllll‘HHUl't‘tl.
The n itor ons l’ete J~Ill"$()'l and Simon Girty figurel in
t IIS ntlLrnu'e. They made >e\'era.l attempts to d cor them
to shore, hut the White had been Warned, and would have
escaped had the\ ])o.~‘\e.~‘Se(l any knowle lee ot’ the ()llillllcl
ot'the t‘-Vt't‘; lint unf rtunately they ran astiore during the
night, and before they could ('Sl'lll)", the Savnges, headed
by Girtv, poured a volley into th -m, Wnieh killed or ren-
dered helple-s all on deck, and then rushed upon the
boat.

The women were outraged and tomahawked, Pele John-
son leading. in the laller parlraiit)‘; and. as il‘to ineize the
settlers :ilntl': the river. the ll‘tt-h at: Was e:t:el'nlly preserv-
ed from injnrv, and with seVeral of the hningled corpses
upon it. set. allot-Lt.

It glided some twenty or thirty miles when it, struck
the shore and grounded.

One of the rangers, passing down the river, tlisCovered
it, and suspecting foul play, Wuded out and climbed into
it.

As he passed over the gnmyale he was nearly overeome
wit]. the horrid st. neh ol' the putrelying l)()(liUS. Nothing
daunted. he p’nnued l‘i'nsullllu y intu the ea'dn, where
the nut horrors llut‘st up his vismn. Sll‘Clt'lIt-(l nut, at, In 1
length lay some eight or nine women and men. blotted
and bloody, piled upon each other, and glued togelher ill
the'r own l) aekent-(l hlood. '

Ile nailed to the rhure, l)|'()l\‘C off seVeral dried ht'anehes’
and piled them at the Caliin door, It was “on manly
dark, and he set tire to them and pushed the limit into the
stream. At last the hull. hnrnt to a charred cinder, dipped
beneath the water and disappeared from View

  

 

 

 

    

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.

CHAPTER XI.

THE CAPTAIN AND THE INDIAN.

The report of the ontr'rge on the tlat-lvoat, we say,
reticin-d our setthineut‘ l)lll, it was dist-reditml by many,
among whom, ol' Cou'Se, was Captain Ptl‘h’S. And eVeu
when the l'.‘lll'_‘(:l‘ himselr rel rtetl to the astonished people
what he had witnessed and done, the ira‘eihle Cripluill told
him he had imagined it all. He helt sueh faith in the
clmstisement given by Colonel Clerk, that there was hut
one argument which could make him helieve the savages
liad tea ly eommenced their outruges again. That argu-
ment, in its inmt convincing tortn, he was to receive.

As is generully the case, the long pre-emption t'rom lit-
tnek gave to the pioneers an Undue reuse of .~eeurity, and
many of" them more than onee eulpahly exposed them-
selves to danger. No Warning or remonstrances could in-
duce some from plungingr into the threat and erecting
their enhins more than a rifle-shot from the block-houses.
The restless, eager enterprise, so peeuliar to the American
people, nnm-l'ested it~elt in every proceeding.

In those days nearly every species of game tllWillntlt’d in
the wood : the lear,’lmfl‘..ln, (let r, panther, e‘k, coonavolf,‘
rind the numherles‘s sinaller animals. 'l'lus I, with the llI_\'-
natls of delicious Ilsll, showed the goodly inheritance of
the pioneer. _

One morning, in the late summer, Captain Parks shoul-
dered his rifle and pltliigtd into the wood, determ uel to
spend the day in the hunt. Tlre'iiiiiiistt-t" E twartls. Ven-
tnred to caution him, but he only reCeived an lll|1)'tti(-nt
h Umplt l" for his good intentions. He would neither per.
mit any one to aeCompnuy him, and evinced consideraole
temper when it was ventured upon the ground of safety.
He turned his footsteps toward the Licking river, and his
object was to bring down several deers. In a. short time

  

 

 

  

78 LEW WHETZEL, THE scour.
he reached a celehrated deer lick, and bringing his dog to
him, concealed himself in the bushes.

Lying thus, with his gaze turned up the lick, he saw
nothing hclrnd him until his dog uttered a low growl of
alarm. Turning around, instead of an animal, he saw
nothing less than a Shawnee Indian following his trail l

But at this unlucky moment the dog gave a hark and
sprang to his feet. The Indian, at the first alarm, sprung
backward, and stood on the defensive, and the captain
seeing that he Was discovered, arose and approached h‘m,
while each held his rifle ready to fire at the first demon-
stration of the other. But neither tired, as they both rec-
.vognized each other.

The savage had often been in the settlement, and was
generally known to the whites as a drunken, worthless sot.
Some suspected him of treachery, although he had never
been detected in any overt act, and professed friendship
to them. Buthe had the appearance of a low, cunning
fellow, and was carefully shunned by the most cautions.
He llud heen christened Bill by the settlers, and it had
been remarked that for the last few months he had not
been noticed in the vicinity of the settlement.

“ Why, how see you, Bill i” asked the captain, extend-
ing his hand.

“ Me good. HOW captain ?”

“Al right. Hunting, I see ?”

“ Yeh; me huntin’ lor dam deer.”

“ Will, did you get on their track ?”

“ Purly nigh track 0’ suukeu‘l”

“Track of what ?" demanded the captain, in a towering
passion.

“Me don’t know; tink him dam Mingo,” eagerly repli-
ed the savage.

“ Umph I our tracks looks a good deal alike.” Q

“ Yell I much like,” repeated the Indian.

“ If I‘s sure you were following me, Bill, I’d shoot you
in a minute.”

The small restless eye of the Shawnee fairly snapped
‘with electric blackness for an instant as he gazed at tho

  

(I

 

 

 

  

LEW WtIETan, THE SCOUT. 7 9
Captain; but the latter returned his look with his own
glittering OI‘l)S and awed him at once.

“I hardly think you would try such a thing, because I
always treated you gentlemaulike; kicking you out the
house when you gave me any of you jaw, and licking you
like blazes when you insulted the woman. And you chaps
got, such a whipping from our lmys that I hardly believe
you will try any ot‘ your trick" very Soon again.” '

“Sltau-nees do nothing; much ’lraid."

“ S‘pose so, Come, B II, he honest. Did the Shawnees
stop a ti lt-hoat up the river and butcher all hands ?”

“No; big lie; nehher do such thins.”

“Well, I don’t believe they did. Where’s Simon Girty
and that devil, Pete Johnson? Raising the devil among
your people 3”

“ Girty am so (imitaing’ the action of scalping) and
Johnson gone hack with own folks.”

“ You don‘t say 2” asked the Captain, swallowing the
fulSehood.

“ Yuh ; me help to do it to Girty.”

“ Umph ! that’s one ecod thin;r you have done in your
life. How came them to scalp Simon Girly."

“ Hint want to kill all whites: he do too much.”

“I haven‘t seen you around the settlement since you
went ofl“ so drunk. Thought maybe you Were gone.”

“Bill go live with sqnaw and take care of ’etn.”

" Oh, married, I see. \Vell, that’s all right, I s'pose—
but I started out on a deer hunt, and I an) of the opinion
that it’s few deer we shall see if we stand here talking ”

“Very good; Bill shoot (leer, too.” ’

Captain Parks returned to his hiding place, and the In~
(lian followed, and passed beyond and concealed himself
behind him. The Shawnee held his rifle toward the'cap-
tnin, and continually raised his head as though he ('Xpt‘ct‘
ed the approach of some animal ; lint the captain soon he-
catne Convincth that thew glances Were lwston'ed upon
hims‘c-lt'. 'l‘hey remained in this position for an hour. At
the expiration of that time the captain arose and express~

   

  

 
   

 

80 LEW WHETan, TIIE scour.
ed his determination of going home. The savage arose
also, and they started together.

\Vhen wi hin a. few inile of home, they reached a large
brook, in which were thruwn several stones, to n sis! in
crossing over. Without he itntion. our friend stepped on
theSe nud eonnneueed puss-ing. As he reached the oppo-
Site shore, he turned suddenly nronnd to see the snwge.
This moVenrent. saved his life, for at that. instnttt the env-
aue raised his rifle nnd fired. The bullet >llttttt‘l‘t‘tl the
powder-horn :it. the captain‘s waist, nnd hetirre he eonld
reenver, the ludinn uttered a. yell ot' defiance and (llSIIP-
penred in the t'mest.

“ After him, dog, and tear him to pieces 1” he exclnim-
ed, fur ously.

The (in; plunged into the forest with a howl, and took
his trail with the quickness of lightning. Suddenly the
yelp- of the dog: cens d, and In fore he hnd taken a dozen
steps, the meaning, l)ltletllll£ farm of his dog nppenred.
IIe dropped with n whine ntt the (:nptnin’s feet. The pour
brute wns (lend. nnd Cnptnin Pnrks was Convinced thnt
the Sltnwnees were pretty well rid of their frieudty feeling
toward the Settlers.

CH A P'l'E R XII.

it is one of those pleasant summer days, a Few months
after the occurrenee of the events recorded in our Inst
chnpter, that we take a. glance at the settlement which
figures so consp cueusly in enr narrative, and which lut-
terlv had enjoyed cmnpnrntive quiet.

Cnptnin Parks. on his return trom the adventure related
in Ullt lust chapter, had given his opinion thut the whole
Shawnee tribe, and Bill espeein ly, were a set of uniniti-
gated scnnndrels. nnd that it Would never do to repose the
lenst confidence in them.

Late in the evening of thelmnntiful summer’s dny of
which we speak, Kingmau and Irene passed through the

  

 

 

 

    

LEW WlIETZEL, THE SCOUT. 81

block-house and arm-in-arm made their way slowly to-
Wnrd the l'iVm‘. ’

The girlish beauty of Irene hurl ripened into all the ins-
cimrting chnrms of womanhood. There was a deeper
blueness in ill'l‘ llliiti, affectionate eye, though it (3(Hliti still -
Sp‘xt'kle with its \vonted fire, and u meeker, more subdued
expresdon of the Counu-nmme.

“ \Vhar a mag‘uiliCent night,”rcm:1rke<l Kingman.

“Too ileflllliilli to sleep," returned Irene.

“For what, then, is it made '6"

“ For meditation mnl devotion.”

“ And love 1” “dried Kingmun, pressing the girl impul-
sively to him. “ It. is now three years since [first asked
you to he my honuy wife, Irene. You (iiti not refuse me,
but thought you were too young, aml I wanted nnother
year before I irked you. You mmle the same nnswer the
Secimil time, and I have now WHIleti two long yours with-
out llltlkillL’ the s‘ightest reference to it. We nre hoth
older, and I trust I am wiser now. Irene. will you be my
wife ?"

“ I guess I am too old now.”

Kingnmu lookerl down into the Face resting upon his
shoulder, tor he (lirl not know the llltmnlng of the Words
--—|iut, it was not, (lurk enough to Conceal the roguish
twinkle of her eyes.

“ Don't \ou lhink I am getting too old ?” she asked
reaching up and brushing the lmir lrotn his foreheacl. ,

“Well, you are mlher oltl, that’s a. tact—older than I
ever knew you to be belore—‘ but better late than never,’
you know.”

“ Then it matters little how late it. is—so supposewe
Wait a few yearx- longer yet.”

"’An llllStlplmstililt: true, my dear.”

“ But. not an impossith one.”

“I hope so. My gratClOuS! I have waited three your:
already.”

“ But, we will he wiser and oliler then."
“ We will be older, I suppose, but l.ttle winer.”

  

 
 

 

 

82 LEW WHETZEL, TIIE scour. ,

“And wiser, too, I am sure. We can try it'lmd see, at
all events.”

“ Irene, will you not promise me now 2” asked King-
'man, in an earnest tone.

“Perhaps so. Ask and see.”

“ Well, then. will you be my Wife 3”

“ Yes,”

“ Within a. year 2”

“ 3708.” L

“ \Vithin six months i”

H 3'98.”

“Within three months i”

“ No, sir.”

“When will you, Irene i” .

“ Next. spring.”

“ In February ?”

“ Fuhrunry is not in the spring; no, sir, not then.”

r“ Do name the time; I suppose it will be the last day
of the season.”

“ No, George. I will hecnme your wife on the first of
M:Iy--in the month of roses and flowers.”

Kingman drew the tremhling girl closer to him, and
pressed it pure kiss on her burning cheek. They sat and
conversed for into the night, lheirvoiees just loud «Enough
to remain only the ears for which they were intended

"Should we not return ’6” at length asked Irene.

“I see no need of hurrying. Why do you nsk 'i”

“It is somewhat lute; and, besides,” she added, in a.
lower tone, “I believe I have licnrd something wrong."

“Not frightened, Irene, are you i” '

“Yes: for I fear we are in (hinge r.

“In danger from whom, I should like to know.”

“ From Indians and wild animals.”

“From Indians! do you suppose there could be found
a savage, Irene, who Would harm it hair of your heard ‘6”

Kingman hnd hardly C(‘llSt'd speakng when he heard a
rustling, and started to his feet. He renched forward to
his rifle, which he had leaned against a tree not three feet
away. It was gonel

  

 

    

 

_' LEW WHETZEL, THE scour. 83

“By heavens! we are in danger. Keep quiet, dearest,"
he whispered.

The next instant they heard the deep, suppressed laugh-
ter of some one. Both were confounded. Wonder for a
moment held them silent, then, as Kingman loolceLLup he
saw a form standing in the entrance.

“ Frighten you“ any t” asked the well-known voice of
Abe Mofl'at.

“Rather,” laughed Kingman.
rifle ?”

,“ I picked one up that Was leaning against a tree here."

“ How did you get it without my knowing it i”

“Just reached over and hauled it up without saying a
word. You needn’t blush so, Irene; I didn’t hear George
ask you to he his bonny w1fe; I didn’t hear you promise
him you would; but, George, if you value your little an-
gel, you’d lietter get out of this as soon as convenient.”

“ What mean you 2" asked both, eagerly.

“ 0 nothing! only the devil is to pay among the Shaw-
nees again.”

“How did you know we were here i”

“I seen you go, and I can tell you, as I just now told
you. you must do this courting at home, or in some safer
place than this.”

Kingman concluded that the advice of the ranger was
gem], and arose at once.

Whether the storm of war would not have reached our
settlement or not it is difficult to tell.
ing fire among the frontier was fanned into a raging flame
by the perpetralion of one of the greatest oulragi-s lhat
ever disgraced the American history. In March. 1782,
Colonel Daniel Williamson and his command inhumanly
massacred over a hundred of the peaceful Moravian Indi-
ans. These had long been such warm friends to the whites
that they had incurred the displeasure of their own people
thereby, and their murder was therefore entirely unpro-
Vokesl and without the shadow of excuse.

Colonel Williamson sowed the wind and others reaped
the whirlwind.

“Have you got my

But the smoulder— ‘

    
 

 
   
   
   
  
 

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.

CHAPTER XIII.

REAI’ING TIIIC Wlll ItL‘VlND.

  
     
   
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   

A. few days suh=eqnetit to the mnsxacre of the Mor-ivinn
Indiana, (\lN‘ Moll'ttt. made his :iiiiieurnnc: at the vill-«ge.
uttl tenorted their s':tit;:lttei'. For days nothing else w l3
referred to, and the minister, Edwards, WAS so ltCHI‘lltl'nk-
en that he started at. once and “lone through the wilder-
ness to 3“in him<elfol the hill extent ot'horrors.

'l‘ne Ilistnnce to the, >(‘t‘llt3 of the nuts uere was great. and
it. was a \ver-k’sjonrm-y to go and return; hut an impetuq,
Fuel] us seldom inllnenee the motives of any one, impelled
him lot'wurd. He arrived upon the ground late at, night.
“'ith ll :ind enntious trend the divine emerged
from the lowest and \vnlkel llIl'OllulIl the strieken Vhllnge.

Tin-re WM :z, htint moon overhenl that: threw n ghastly
light lipoil the seene, :in | the ripple of the mud l)’ Tits-
carom, HS it flowed (ltll'l\’l)‘ lry. was the only sound that
Al zit onCe, :tnd unconsci-
ously to himself, he enine up In the edge of the pit eon-
At sight, of the putrid
Indium, piled ptomiwnous'y l1);{0tllt?l',:ttt(l rendered dollh-
1y wot'ul liy the moonling stre-tm nu' down Upon them‘ a

silent.

(listtll'lred the solemn sti lnes<.

twining: the slaughtered lmdim,

sudden lnintnesa oven-nine him. and ere he could “ith-
draw, he liented and .\‘.\'()()n('1l nutty.

IIe reeoveied in :1, few iiioitietit<, nthl without. trusting;
himself to look again, turned and disappeared in the for-
est.

Late at night he started a fire against the dark trunk
of at huge oak, and lay down to rest.

The (livine generally flept heavily; but the terrible
night which he lntd so lately witne<sed still haunted him
in his (In-runs. He Was ieverix'lnnml olten uttered words
that showed upon what, his mind w.i< C Y] :tuntly running,

At'tel'u while he commetmed drem: Eng, He saw the whole

 

23

_.._-A'-'0

 

 

 

  

LEW WIIETZEL, THE SCOUT. 85
brlchcry again. as his terrihly excited imagination eon- a
ceived it, and finally it Seemed that one of the Indians
sndilenlr sprang: up and hrand.shel a toinahawk over his
he m. 11(‘I)"S\'"Sn‘ll no p m'et‘ ot~ moving, and finally
:I\\()i~(|.('n\('ll(i \‘.'liil(‘(liti:1ll<i lll'l'yil'nllnll. As he start-
ed n! he fonvid a l)<ii‘i:ltll ot' his dream a re clity. In the
dim moon] ght the dinning I‘_\'t"':\l \ and iii taming~ Visage
(ii an In‘lian were, visih'e (Tthl to his litre,

“ Wily, \\'i 3;: mund, is that you? \Vhtt is the mitter
that, you look so '4”

This Wingennnd was a Shawnee chief who was known
and respected hr many of the whites for the sterli: gqnai-
iiit'S he pos (-ssed. lie was brave. honorable, anti—“hat
was almost a. Iaradhx H] a Sil:l\\'lli'U——\\'HS nn-reifnl. He
had taken iitth- part, in the lio Mil-r wars; althonqii. in the
battles with other Indian trihex', he w s the WWW: tantmg‘
the hrave. Ile WHS a tniddle—azzwl In an, ol' lllllCl intelli-
gei N, and ot'n n Visitwi the ditlerent Settlements. lie
spoke tlu-E xgli<h langn-iue Very fluently, and avoided
that (-xti‘a\':i«_:ant, manner of t'Xl)l'C~SiHll so com'non among
the North American Indians. ill-nee, the :lStmtishnlenl of
Edwards nus natural at Seeing him in such a. suspicious
astitnde.

“ What is the matter, Winqenund? You would not
take my .il'e, would you T’ I , I

“ I dial lot know you‘ good man, and‘came near doing
it. lint Wingenund will Ht‘VL‘r harm you."

“ Nor any other white llltlll‘ I hope.”

“ Wittgenund has dnp‘r up the hatchet, and it shall never
be buried Again until it has drunk the blood of the Cow-
ardly white men.” 

“ What. does this mean, good friend? I thought; you
were our friend."

“I was, good nmn, but am no longer.

“Not the Iriend of our settlement?"

“1 am the friend ol' no man in whom a drop of pale.
faced hitHHi runs, except of 81111011 Giity and his men.”
“ Are 501; not a {timid to me, good Wingeuuud 3”

  

    

 
 

36 LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.

“If we meet in battle, there is nothing but enmity be-
tween us.”

“I am sorry for that, but I trust we shall never meet
thus. But, VVingenund, let me ask the meaning oi this
change, although I tear I know the reason already."

“ Ilave you been yonder i" asked the savage, pointing
his hand back of him.

"I have only just returned,” replied the divine.

“You have seen the Moravian Indians 2”

“I have seen them, \Viugenund.”

“And yet you ask why I have dug up the hatchet l”

“But, remember, Wingenund, that none of us under-
take to justify the Cause of \leliamson, and why should
you seek to take vengeance upon the innocent i” i

The ehiettain’s brow grew darker still as he replied:

“It cannot do, good man ; the tribes who have fought
each other will unite together to make war upon you. I
have passed through the villages and stirred them up. I
told them what Williamson and his men had done. and
that was enough. You must beware now.”

“ \Vingenund, I know you are a brave man, and do not
believe you would harm any one whom you believed to be
a friend. Listen, then, to what I say. \Ve heard, some
months ago, that Colo‘nel Williamson, with one hundred
men, was preparng to march against the Shawnees. The
Shawnees had broken in upon their settlements at night,
had burned their houses and scalped their women and
children. They did this without provocation upon the
part of the whites, and we knew they would do it again.
To prevent this, these men wer sent to chastise the of-
fenders. Tin-y were not sent t iurder defenceless peo-
ple, as they did. One of our men joined them. He no-
companied them to the Moravian towns, not dreaming of
their intentiong_ “men he saw the awful work they were
about to commence, he told Colonel WillinmSUII t0 his
face that he was a base Coward and Villain to undertake
it. He appealed to the men to join him in their resist-
ance, running the risk of being shot himself while he did
30. Nearly a score bosought their commander to spare thu'

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. 87
lives of the Indians. and holle stepped forward and tie
mandt-d that it should he done. But the others refitscd.
They were determined that all in their power should die,
and those who first spoke against it, finally jo'ned the
others. But he from our settlement did not. He did
“lint he eou‘d to prevent it, hut Could not. But he took
no part in it. He was their friend. and felt. as all ltllt
these men did. Wln-n this man arrived, and reported that
he had seen these things, I ('onld not. helteve him at first.
I hastened here alone to satisfy myself of what I saw. I
have told you how we t'eel, and,Wingenund, will youraise
the hatchet against us ?”

The chief tremhled at this question, and Edwards saw
that he was deeply atl'ected. He remained silent a mo-
ment. and then answered:

“The good man has spoken truth. The other Shaw-
nees and Indians may slay your people, but Wittgenund
never will.”

“That rejoices my heart, my gnod friend.”

“ But I Wnl‘n you,” he added, impetuonsly, as he recoil-
ed a step—“ I warn you, 110ml man, of what is coming,
that you may be prepared. The red men haVe gathered
like the stars in heaven, and they have sharpened their
knives and sung the war-song arotmd the camp fires. “To
to him who cro>5es into the country! He shall never re-
turn. Our scouts are Seonring the woods, and none shall
escape their cyt s. Be warned, good man, Wingenund has.
spoken."

Betore Edwards could intercept the Chieftain or make a
reply, he wheeled around and darted away into the dark-
ness.

The minister replenished his fire, and although he knew
that the warnings of his HIV:th friend shon d he heeded,
he did not hesitate to lie down again in slumber. Th 8
time he \VtH not disturhed, and when he awoke the sun
was Shillng high in the sky, and the mugse s at" the wood
Were chattering gaily owrhead. 'Slmging his rifle over
his shoulder, he turned his face toward home.

The savages had comparatively little success along the.

a

 

  

    

  

88 LEW WHETZ CL, THE SCOUT

frontier. The different settlements Were so thoroughly
nrinetl and prepared, and the rangers so watchful and vi-
g‘lant, t nt it. was illlpliSs‘iitlc to come upon them unpre-
parv tl. Sil’:l‘_’“."lt'l\‘ and hunters nmlerwent the mm (lan-
ger, as ther \Vl‘l‘t‘ l'olioxrwl anti :xt. .‘lt'wt‘tt hr wroerior nnin-
hers in the. Wu» 9, Hull ia'ely e-(znlnul their implneriiule
tom; The great 'l‘rx-ninwh at th'.\' ti‘ne wa“ lint a mere
ho , yet lhe v:r'-i:int (hexlsol‘ his Cullllrtlllttlh‘ill'((1i|l< shit,
ninl he glare evi tenet: even at th s (ally (lny‘ or that non-
(lerinl 1) owe~s and courage nhieh has since l'tfllthl't‘ti his
name mnmt‘tal. I

The Indians, growing holder and more exasperated at
their ill-success. tina‘ly erossenl the frontier and attarlu-(l
the settlers in \Vestern 1’enn~ylv:nria ninl Virginiz. Sev-
eral homes Were hnt‘ e l, :llltl litt'll' inmatea either put to
the torture or carried away into (raptvity, Thi< was a
holtl proceeding, and (lullltllltititl pnimhnient inimmlintely.
A call \\"|S male tor Volunteer“. and the nevus -<l settlers
colleetetl together at once. Nearly tive lllllltil‘0<l men en-
rolled themselves for the onnrpiign, nml to show the let 1-
ing which netnatetl the settlers‘, we have only to mention
that the monster, Williamson, was t‘iCClt‘tl lemler; antl he
nliltlt‘ no SW'l‘el’ of his intention to innrtler the renin “ng
Mo'arian Indium. This ereaterl so much illtltglltlilfln
amng the lllt‘ll nrnl SlliHH'tlllliltt' “mm-r; that (M, 1 aw-
font, a brave and humane man, was appointed to thgcom-
nr-nrl, wnh power to control the actions ot the entire
form.

()n aeconnt ol' the unexpected change, in the nspwct nf
afflirs along the lronthr, lrene hatl int'ormml King‘inan
that she (ftJIISltlt‘l'tltl it best to (later their marriage «lay nn~
til there was penee, or at lenst‘ a nearer upnronoh to it
Hum at, present. In the llllrlsl ot war, when their own
people were engaged in it, it seeme-l hawlly proper their
a lllull'lilu‘t', shou'tl take pl we. I{lllL{lIl I” saw the judice
of “nut >he Strlrl, amt u_-reml tlrit an irnletinite postpone-
ment wa< (lemanrlgl.

On the 22nd ot May, a glorious spring morning, Colonel
.Crnwford marched with his toree into the Indian country.

 

 

 

    

 

 

LEW WIIETZEL, TUE SCOUT. 89

The first point visited was the Moravian towns. which
they found deserted and forsaken. Here Ahe Mt-flat, who
had joined the cotnpniy as spy, notdied Crawford that
their lllO'lOHS were watched by numerous Indian spies,
and that every preparation was in Id - ti give them battle.
The greatest Cate was net'cx' ary to :IVoltl being drawn in-
to illlll)ll>ll, and Cr-m ford ordered the men to Ill:ll't'll dow-
ly, keeping a good distanee behind the ranger; and so nl's,
There were newly a. dozen ot these Constantly outlying the
army, who communicate! at all times with it. As there >
Was a. FCtll'e of Indian sp'es‘ most eonsnmtrate tact and
Cunning was Called into play for the two forces to avoid
each other. As it was, personal eneonnters took plaCe he-
tween the scrmts, and t 1e sold ers ot'ten heaer the repolt
ol'tlieir arms or the yells ot‘ eontl ct. The Indian sp es
Coneeuled them~elves in the thick tops of the tunes, and
as this Was practiCed l»y nnmhers of t e white ratth rs, it
more than onee happened that an Indian or American spy
{onyd thentSt-lves hoth inhahitants of the same tree. ln
sue . a. ease a short contest, always lat d to one and often
to liOlll, took plaee.

In this manner the American party marched forward,
until at Upper Sandnsky they found themselves compel]-
ed to give lnaltle to an overnhc Ining force of lnd ans.
The rangers Warned Crawford that it Would he a desp r-
ate and hloody strnugle, as th-- sa 'a yes were exa peratt-(l
to the lllull p leh of llll‘V hy the sling‘hter of the Moravi .11
Indians, ant they had learned that Colonel Williamson
“m with him.

Cm“ l'ord formed his men in order oi hame M (111101“),
as pet-Slide, :uldressini,‘r them, and awakin~ an enthtNaqn
whitth gave him A teat Confidence. The lmttle commenc-
ed immediate _\',Cr:t\\'l'ord‘s three preset'i'inLr 'ltllll ralrle or-
der. and Withstandng nolily the t'llat'u'e ot the Savages.
But at the Next charge (,‘r‘HVltll‘tl s w, with i‘ (%X])l‘t'.\‘> lilo
disgust, the cowardly Williamson (who feared the lndians
were endeavor-in: to seenre him) tnrnc liin with (11.. “L.
most Confusion and make a break for the woods. me.
ford, in a voica of thunder, sprang formed and endeav

 

    

  

90 LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.

ored to cheer: the retreat; but it was impossible. A pan-
ic had taken possession of them, :‘nd the exulting Indian
gave them no chance or opportunity to reform. '

Simon Girty took part in this memorable Conflict, and
during the retre-tt dashed into the woods took prisoner——
Abe Motl'atl This he would nCVer have accomplished
had Abe not labored under the greatest disadvantages.
He had broken the lock of his rifle so as to he unable to
fire it, and was singled out by Girtv, who being mounted
ran him down before he had the slightest chance of con-
Cea‘ing himself. Giving him in (inu‘ge of several Indians,
Gi ty again took to the Woods and captured two more
Whites Upon arrmging them, it was found that there
were over forty. Among these was Colonel Crawford him-
self. A Council w- s immediate‘y held, and the Whole were
pulnted back, and Condemned to the stake!

We shall dwell upon the fate of but two of these-Col-
One CHHV 0rd and Abe Mofl'ttt.

At the village resided the Indian chief, Winqenund.
This ehie! had been known to Crawford sometime belore,
and had been on terms of true friendship with him, and
kindly entertained by him at his own house; and such net
of k ndness, all red men remember with gratitude. Win-
gt-uund does not oppear to have been present when the
]~rep [rations were made for burning of the prisoners, but
resided not far from the village and had retired to his
0 bin that he might not. see the sentence of his nation ex-
tcuted upon one callingr him his friend; but Crawford
reque ted that he m'ght be sent for, cheering his almost
rat less" mind with the fa‘nt hope that he would interfere
and save him. Accordingly Wingenund soon appeared
in the preseIICe of the bound and naked men white man.

He was asked by Crawford whether he know him,when
the lndian said he believed he did, and then asked;

“ Are you not ColOnel Crawford 3”

“I am,” replied the colonel.

The eliiei displqed much agitation and embarrassment.

" Do you not recollect the friendship that always existed
between us 3” said Crawford.

*0;

 

 

 

an-
£1118

 

 

 

. LEW WHETZEL, THE 300m. 91

*1 cs,” Said the chief, “ I remember that you have been
t md to me and we have often drank together."

“ I hope the. some trienilship continues.” Silit] Crawford.

“It would, of Course, were you where you ought to be.”

“And why not here ?” urged the Colonel. "I hope you
would not (lesvrt n friend in time of need. Now is the
time l'or you to exert yunrclf in my behztll, as I shou d do
for you were you in my place."

"I cannot. The King: of Englnmi himself, were he to
Come to this spot, with all his Wt‘nltll and influence, could
not interfere. The blow] of the innocent Mornvimw. more
than half of them Women and children, cruvlly and wan-
tonly murdered, enlls too loudly for revunue l”

“My fate, then, is fixeil,” said the “'l'CN‘llCd man, “I
must prepare to meet (loath in its worst form."

\Vingenuntl, shedding tears, and deeply affected, then
withdrew.

The colonel, ohsrrving terrible preparations going for-
ward, called to Girty, who snt on horselmck, nml nskwl if
the Indians Were going to hurn him. Girty replied in the
aflirmutivo. The Colonel heard the intelligence with film-
ness, merely remarking that he \vouhl hear it with forti-
tude. At this juncture a Delnwnre chict arose tllHl ud-
(lressed the croud in a tone of great energy, pointing fre-
quently to the colonel. As soon as he had Clltimi, a loud
whoop burst from the assembled throng, and they allrush-
ed at onca upon the nothrtunnte met'ortl.

A terrihle scene of torture was now cmnmenced. The
warriors shot charges a." powder into his naked body,
commencing at the calves of his legs, and continuing to
his neck. The boys switched the burning hickory poles,
and applied them to his flesh.

The sqnaws would take up a quantity of eonls and hot
ashes, and throw them Upon his body, so that in a few
moments he had nothing but fire to Walk upon l

While this awful scene was heng enacted, Girty rode
up to the Spot “here. Dr. Knight stmfl. Atter Contem-
plnling the sufferings of the colonel tor a few moments,
G2rty told the doctor that he had a foretuste of what was

i

 

    

  

9‘3 LEW WHETZEL, 'rrm scour.

in reserve. for him. He swore that he need not expect to
eseapc death, but should suffer it in all the extremity of
torture. ‘

rl‘lie terrilile seene had now lasted more than tWo hours,
and Crawford litul llCCUllle nitteh exiiatutted. At length
llt' sunk in tt lillllllllg lit ttpon his thee, and lay motionless.
Inst itth no lntlifiu sprung upon his hock, knelt lightly
on one km e, made a circular iuc son with his knife upon
the crown of his head, and chipping the kni e between
his teeth, tore tue scalp off with both hands.

Sentcely ll'ltl this lieen done when it. withered ling ap-
prouehed with a board fu l ol'liut'ning etnhcrs, and poured
them upon the crown of his head, now laid bare to the
bone. The eolonel grottned deeply, arose, and again wulk-
ed slowly around the stake. But why continue a. descrip-
tion so horttlite?

Nature at length could endure no more, and at a late
hour in the tti ltt he was releztSed by death from the hands
of his tot'oieutors.

When Colonel (l ttwfortl “msrxlripped and pointed lilack
for the s‘uke, his shoes were also taken off and must ttwuy.

I‘L'il'tlt stood by ulun this wus done, and the notion
seetntd to have given hint a thought, for he kicked off his
Own ntoeensins, and Walking forwurd to where the shoes
1m. he tnttniigetl to Work his feet into them.

0: Course his actions we‘e observed by the Indians, but
they supposed thttt nothing was intended by it further
than to :eeure it protection for his feet.

When Crztwlottl. in his torture, n'tts Cotnpe'led to walk
hurt-looted oVer the living; Coats, Girty turned upon his
horse and spoke to Moll'ttt:

“ Ah, that's what _\ou put on them shoes of his’n for, is
it? Nevt'r mind-«witch we come to toast you, they Won‘t
do you no good."

One or tu o more of the prisoners were burned upon the
spot, uhen it was determiptd to llltll'Cll the others to the
S in \net: towns. Where hundreds ot' others might {cost
themselch with the sight. For this purpose the priso-

I

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

    

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. 93

mars were Separated, and under the guardianship of either
one or two Indians, mttrched (it? ~inglV into thtfwond.

Dr. Knight, the t-ttmpuninn of Crawford. he said lit-fore,

VHS give" in ohm-€36 (,f mm \\':|]‘t‘l(t[‘. t'rtim “hum he, mun»
“Ln-(l to (Isa-t1)“ ill the wand during the, mnrt'it. 'l‘ht- tttltet‘s,
wlm had any ttllltt“|l‘5lll"‘e «if xtnhlmi-tmev, ur who rt't'llit'tl
likely to give imnhh-~ were given over to dell-armed sav-
ages to “at eh their mutimw,

Stu-h \"HS the are, “iilt I‘fntliit,

'l‘he Shawnee ttt\\'ll.~t we'e :l lent: d's‘anee‘fiiwny nntl, as
the ttl'iSHlttfl‘S were lllt‘llt'ti tn keep M'lHl'tttt) by their
hunters, the mute

M« flitt was I very last one who started. He rtjnieed
at this, as it left, the anus: elettr behind him, and Girty had
accemttnnied the e in hunt.

The rttngcreotthl see, l'mm the look; the two snvnges
gnve him, that they were anxious to ascertain his l'eelmgs.
“his eye sparkled. «it he retained his twml v:v.-teitv. their
susltitzinns Wuultl l)L‘ ttt‘ttltSPti; and he :tt'tt: dineg tie gnetl
the deepest desptindt-ney :md despu I,

During the (l:t_\', Mull'nt‘s hands lt:ttl lteen Simp‘y tied lie-
hind him, amd he matched in Hunt of the twn suv IL'CH. At:
night, he \\'tell knew he Slltlllltl he more Securely lmtmtl,
and it, Was his tlt-tt'l'tttlnztttttn to elude his enemies, it'pus-
Bible, liet'nre that time.

In the elit-t'ntmtt he feigned sickness, heseeehin;r the sav-
ages to hat“ and rest at allol't intervals. Altlmtlult lttlllu‘l'y,
he tet‘tisetl : ll fend, and on one or twu occasions uetuully
drupped t0 the grntttid, “3 it with ftintnew.

'l‘itemtspietens ot the Indians \vete untttrnlly roused at;
first, but the s ekness hf their enpttve was so Well ussmnetl
tutti carried out, that, they \\'t'lt: tinu l_\' tleeeiVed. 'l‘hey
halted severul time~, and allowed him it tew moment‘s
rest. As Mnflht hty upon the gretmd, at such times. he
grmmed imd rti.le«t and Wiittted ILS tltottglt in grew ptiti;
hut, in reality, he was \\‘()l‘l\'lll‘_{ at the thqng whim held
his “riste. By doubling his lent beneath him, catching it,
and tw sting the thtmg over the shoe, he s‘tteeeeded m get-
tittgltiti stten “1)”.‘il ()ll ustn mltm' h m In ehnf- and lltl)
it against the llttllaitl the >lIHt'. Nuw, it is 11-: eusvfnmt-
tet' for :t pet‘smt tn i)l'll|;_" his {not :llltl lmntl tngellter ltt', intl
him and kt ep them in tlmt l)”>lllt)ll l‘m' any length of time;
and it «me is disposed tn tlnuht it, they can ens l3, Sliis y
themselves liy‘u trial. But with the tithe, mnscutur run-
gel‘ it was quite an eusy ‘mntter. His great hope :wasto

    

 
   
   
 
 
    
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
    
  
 
    
   
   
 
   
  
    

  

.45

9* - LEW \vnic'rz'vr., THE SCOUT.

chafe the 'Lraturc until it could be broken by a desperate
111:5. In t iis he was more successful ; for, as he lay upon
the ground, rolling and Writliinsz as usual, he felt the cord
part behind him, and his hands were free. In a moment
no nrose, of course keeping them behind him. and the
S'ring in its position as much as it i'as possible for him to
(in so,

From the manner of the savages, it was evident they
suspected tuggiing.

Abe, howe er, rather overdid the matter at last. lle
lei-amt- so faint, and sunk to the ground so ol'ten, that the
Sl\'t»f4‘<‘s begin to get out of patience. 'l‘hey ordered him
to lllS feet several times, and once, when he did not ri~e
soon enough, he was brought, up all standingr bj a rousing
kick. This did not suit h in very well; but under the
circumstances he eoneluded to pocket the insult, for the
good reason that there was no other course for him to
pursue. '

At last darkness Commenced settling: over the forest.
The SnVaqes were anxious to reach some point ahead, and
as their frequent. halts l'or their priso ver had delayed them,
they now hurried lor‘vard and traveled later than they
otherwise Would. One savage, as stated, walked in front
of Moflht, and the other behind.

As they were walking in a put of the forest darker and
denser than usual, Moti'at suddenly wheeled upon his feet,
étlltl before the hindmost savage Could suspect. his inten-
tion, struck him a. stunnim: blow that felled him like a
death-stroke. As hedarted away the rifle ot' tne other
Indian was disehargr d and he started in pursuit. But. he
wa< out ot sight, and in the forest—that is all a Western
ranger asks. The whole night was before him, and he
Would have every opportunity that he wished.

lle had run but a leW rods when he settled down to a
walk, for he lelt that his escape was effected. The settle-
ment. was reached in due time, where l‘_,‘ was gladly re-
ceived by his lrienda His esc:ipe may be considered one
of the most remarkable that he had yet met with.

CHAPTER XIV.

When Abe Moflht reached the settlement, he heard
startling newas indeed. Irene Stuart, while wandering v.

. 1

 

._- n—lHo—‘f-

 

r
LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. , 9d

I
short distance from the stoekade the afternoon betore, had
heen heard to utter a piercing shriek, and When the min.
ister, Edwards, who wafi'fihe neared, ran toward the spot,
he saw her in the hands of‘a hruwnv. painted savage, who.
cariying her as he would havn C7Il'l‘iwi an infant, dashed
into the \VWKiS, and immwliatvly disahpl'n‘ed.

"his hold :tlnlut'tion, :H a tmltt r ol' eout'w, created the
greatest <>Xoitvment. St‘VCi‘li stn-tt-d at ontfl' in ,‘m'fillii;
hut it heinu near (ilhk, tln-y were unahle to follow the
trail, and they shortly returned without. having nature-(La
glimpse of the (raptor or Captive. It liapnvnedlthat at
this time Lewis \VeIZel. the renowned ranger, was at the
settlement, and he and the leadingr mm at «nee met to-
gether for Consultation. Kingman. naturally enough, was
anxious to begin the pursuit instantly.

“ No use,” said VVeth-l ; “ we can‘t help getting off the
track, and then we shall lose all the time it’ll take us to
confe hack and start agin.”

“But will they pause to camp to night—for there must
be other lndians in the vicinity—and will we come up to
them right away in the morning ?” asked the excited
lover.

‘ “I hardly think we shall. They will hurry, of‘ course,

all they can, for they know well enough they will he pur-
. sued, and Weill have to travel lletty fast if we get. Sight:
0t them before they are safe home a'Ja'n.”

“The plan, then, is decided,” said E lwards. “Wetzel
41nd I{ill‘:llltlll, ln're, will start at daylight, in pnrsnit,
while, from the new-ssity ot the case, We are compelled to
remain at home. May God he with them 1”

This moment therc- was a movement at the door. and as
they patted, Ahe Motl‘at entered. Several grasped his
hand. and he asked:

“ What‘s the row? No trouhle, I hope. this time ?"

“ 'l‘rouhle enough," replied Kinuman, and he gave, in a
few words, the particulars of what isalrcady known to the
reader.

“And I have had news, too, for you,” said Alw, “ Colonel
Cram thrd‘s lm'ce was (ittit‘fltt‘ti more (:oninletely than was
Sant'ot'd’s. ()er one hundred have heel) k‘illc l, and more
than thir:y hnrnt at the stake! I seen Colonel Crawtord
hurnt m5 self! 1 was painted hlaektor the stake, but the
Lord helped me to get away, and I’m down here, ready for
any service.”

’l‘heefl'ect of this intelligence can scarcely be imaginede

 

96 LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.

“I’m good for a two week’s tramp. and I Mk it as a
speeial favor, \VUlZl‘l, that. you let me take your place.”

“I ve a great Imtiou to follerfliar. girl, and I don"t see
how Ahe can do much, as llt‘ mu~t he a our. tied up now.”

" Why not both ol' \ou 1:0 f" queried Si Kurt.

luh \Yi-IZel and AM: shook tllt‘ll' heads,

“ It, won‘t. do," rep ll‘ll Illt‘ former. “‘ 'l‘iwre mustn’t he
own-1w.) in pm uii. .lu t as >1 H‘ as there or , they Won’t”.
(lo oozh n v- No sir—it \\'o.i’i do.”

5‘ ’l‘wu i< jug: the Hu-ulvei' tout, I4 lli‘t‘thAL” mlcle-l Ahe.

“ You can go_ Awe," mid “W-tziu, utter a moment's re-
flietiou. “ it hurts my ici‘lln48 H) luutk out, hut [don’t
“new; you would thk to go unle-«stheie \thSSlHHe good
idee in \‘otll‘ head. if" you can draw a sight on 'lhat
P‘te Johnson, just make it your >p~eial duty to -wipe
him out from ihe taci: of the univmse!”

It; was agrch iiy Bloilht that he Would rise at the
eai'liest sign of morn, awake lingman, and the two pass
noiselessly out into the forest without disturbing the
others. E-ieh was provided with a rifle. some thirty
charges of power, and a piece of jerked Venison suifimcut
to lust, them several dais.

At a late hour the men departed from Edward’s house
to their homes. ~22"

Aa the night settled over the village, it wud‘lstill and
motionless, us though all \\ ere wrapped in the prolouud-
est slumln-r. Not a soul was movnig save the tow sen-
thuas,ianivershig together aunt exeluuigiug their places
at, long interwls.

Hour iit'ier hour wore slowly away; mid for the twelfth
tinu Hme‘mau 'eturued, l'i'etl'ul and impatient, to h:scoi uc",
as, xhe light, ofdui' had not w! iliumiued the east. 110 out
a luomt-ut, when he 11 ai'd Mollhl. move.

“ ll:lll()l anybody ul) Int?” called out the latter.

“3fc$ yes,lhiilierel ‘1)o euthe Lu),ior yolu'>leep seents
eternal.” '

“ Fudge! Now don‘t he in a hurrv.” i‘ep'ied Motl‘lt,
“(king h‘hl hiaukei oil from him. “Just tame a peep at:
the tlilol' to QCU lithe-1135 any light,”

*' No. lhere is not a streak o1 day.
minute.h

“Imokamdm
see it this tiniefl’

Kiugman stepped to the door, and again looked forth.
Sure enough, just over the eastern edge of the wilderness a

I looked only this

I’ll bet my l‘iflehgaiust yollrliie you will

0

  

 

 

 

:m

t:

d

AAAAA-urphuwpo—o

 

LEW WIIETZEL, TIIE SCOUT. 97

gray, misty light was visible, and there was no mistaking
lls (muse.

"1):li' is lit hnml, inlleell i" exclaimed he,j<)yonsly. “ Let
us I e “if :lt, nnee."

“ Nut. hm hm. for there lnn~t he ennsilll-l‘uhte more light
llc'ure we shirt."

The (M) nlen lnalle nn'mvle-S lmt (‘nl‘l'illl lil'ep-ll'ntinnq l'nr
tlll-ll junvnei. A llllrnin ; 1)]H‘klllll:lil."l'4l1'<illlllllfllll‘litllt},
than n ~in and snmky ll_1lll. 'l‘helr Ilnfiling shlrls new
bllrzklell tightly henl'anh till-Er Lrinlll-x. li'Ulll enl-h of which
protl llllell the lI‘IlHlle" of a Couple of knives; llll‘il' mule-l-
sm< gel lire-(Lani their rifles (’anllillwl nmsl lninun-ly; and
as Muith leaked around and saw that nothingr else wns
Winning he lilew (ml lhe light anl the two men sleppml
faith into the open nil', No one was _\et Vl\il)l(’ stirring in
the settlement, lunl they lnmle tlleil' \\'n_\' ennllnl: ‘ly lmvzml
the Ilnltllel'n mill |:U';_;C~t Illnl-lx'-llnll<v. Il w 5 _\el S i enl'lv
anll (lurk lhnt there ulna Iln lll‘('(‘\\ll_\’ nl' ~I:ll': in: l‘n‘ :l ll :lt'
lmlll' yet. As [hey renelml Llle Meek llHle' Kinglnnn \vns
sul'lll I>Uii in find a (:mlsi el'nh e lllllllllt‘l' wt' l'll'll' il‘ll'lllil‘l n1-
rezuiy [Ill-re. Aiming LlH'lIl he Ilnlim‘tl Ciptulll l’ul’lis,
\Vllelzel, Stuart, Plenlil'u, .‘lllli sevelflll mill-rs,

“ lianer ’nl’ly, nin’t yell 2" will ll'l\'(‘(l \VlIL‘lch.

" Yes; We will wait here u “hile lll'l'ln‘e We stnrifi. Lew,
do you ruppme it is (he Snuwuees who have carried her
Oil, or slime other ll'llie i”. .e ,

“I glll'ss ll.’s the fill‘llivnees. They’re generally in all
kinds ()fthViill'y, and that l’elc Johnson, I believe, ligln'es
aniline; them.”

“ Ht: Isms often in the other tl ile, so tllnt you can llllrd-
ly lell nnylhing |l_\' llnlt. Sln-‘s in desperate hmnls,I can
tUll yum“ added 1“ >111”, ill n loner tone.

“i knew that, and ynu have a hard jab before yon,
Aim.”

“ Unlph l" l'cnml-kml the ('np‘nin ; “ If will run only lid
the K'Ullllll‘y of In ,l I’l-Ie Jnllnsml. you \\'li| lle llnlnnl'lnl-
izlll. Do it, and ill llchl‘ “film you zlgzlln—l won‘t, uprn
nlv lHHIQl'."

.“Tnen I think I will (l0il"’l:a11:lle<l the ranger.

“ l:n"L it linle u) be lnnvillg ?" ushed lilllglllilll, nnX-
iOLI>|'\’.I .

-- Yes; it’s getting light, and We might as well start.”

“ George,” fluid Stllun, us he took our heroes hand, and
the team atl'eumed down his fuce, “ be careful, and do your

 

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
   

  

98 LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT.

ulLmost, for you know what there is at, stake. She is yours
forever if you ean save her. God grant it.” _

All now hude our li'iends l'nrewell, and thev made their
War cautiously out of the liloek-honse. By this time the
sun “ms just nppenring uhoVe the edge of the forest, and
thev hurried forward upon their dangerous duty.

The, trail was innnediutely token, and pursued with the
mo<t unwenrriim nssiduity. Kingmun, whose horder ex-
perience lmd tonhhened his sine.st and strengthenedhis
muscles. was unw Hing to pnuse l‘or more than a moment’s
Test. The grunt tear that his beloved was in the power of
the rereu‘ude Johnson, was too tormenting to allow a mo-
m nt‘s rest.

in a few hours thev reached the spot where the fugitives
had encamped. A hrietexamination revenled the gratify-
ins‘r ihct thut. they Were all eompnrntively a slight distance
ahead. although there was no question but that they were
proceeding: quite rupidlv. ‘

With this was made 21 startling nnd dreaded di<Covery—~
a white mun was one of the enptors. Su'ch being,r the case
it con d he no other than Johnson the renegade.

“ Merciful heavens!" exvluimed Kinsman, in agony.
“We must soon overtake them or it will he too late.”

“Ynll’re too excited." said Mofiht, to whom the same
question could be applied. “You‘re too excited. Take
things (:oolly.”

“ But how cnn I? How much longer is that man to de-
solate the li‘onticl' ?”

“I have, an id m that he has run about the length of his
repe. I Somehow or other feel as though we were going
to wipe him out.”

“ God grant i‘ "’ fervently exclaimed Kingnmn. “ He
hus earned his death over and over uguiu for the lust dozen
yours.” ‘

An hour or two later Molfnt. announced that they were
rapid y gmniug upon the cnptors, nnd it they continued
progressing us they were evidently dong at that. time, the
)ho‘ uhiilies were that they wouLd he orernuken by night-
ln l, or M)Ul)(‘l‘.

It was only when the hunter insisted unon it that our
here would consent to stop and take a few mouthfuls of
fOUd. ' v
There was a. cool delih ation in the movement: of
Motfut that was strangely n contrast with the nerVeus
restlessness of the lover. In fact they were just the men

  

 

 

   

mm

teir
the
nd

he
tiS
t’s
of

O.

,5

y.
38

 

 

 

 

 

    

LEW WHETZEL, THE SCOUT. 99

to engage in the enterprise. In the afternoon the trail
showed signs ol’ an increased gait upon those who were .
being pnrmed. This diseovery cove Kinmnun inerenéetl
anxiety. Finally the gathering darkness compelled them
to give up the pursuit I

“Just whnt I expected !” exc'nimed Kinumnn, in de-
Spnir. “ We may now a“ we] yield up. nud ~o home.”
The ranger touched him on the shmilerwnd pointed
ahead ‘

“ Wlmt doeq that mean ?”

The glimmer of :t camp-fire was di-eernihle thronarh the
trees. That it was the (sump-tire of those whom they were
searching for. there could not he :t moment’s doubt.

“All now depends upon keeping cool," said the ranger.
“We will steal up until we get a good view. You may
take the Indian mud I will take the renegnde.”

Side hy side the tWO crmvled cautiously thrwnrtl. The
Ind'nn was preparing supper, while Pete John on “WIS LV-
inq upon the ground, smoking n pipe. lrene sat on a
fallen tree, her wrists bound together, and her head bowed
as though she was givtnu n'wny to her great mm. A

Abe Mofl'at looked nt Kingmun, and whispered so that
he was just ahle to hear him.

“ Take your man, and he sure that you don’t miss, or he
may not miss me.” '

“ All right; I will take the savage. Never fear fu‘ me.”

Simultaneously the rifles came to their shoulders, and
pointed like the finger of hue toward the doomed ones.
Simultaneousiy their sharp crack hroke upon the stillness,
and nt the same instant the two victims led forward upon
their fneeq, (lend. . t ‘

Irene Stuart, \vns still gnziugj in wonder for the explana-
tion of this, when her lover ennu- ru~hing toward her, and
the next. moment she was t‘ltittiiit-ni in his :u'ms‘.

Ahe )lotiitt scratched his heat! until they \vere through,
and then suggested thnt lh: y take the hack tr.iil. 'l‘nis
they did until they were far removed lrom the (lend
ill dies, when, 8.9 nll three were thoroughly exhausted, they
halted lor the night, '

Bright and early, nl'ter a refreshing- hrenk' hut, the home-
Wurd journey was resumed, nlld jns; 2H night set, in thq
came in sight of the Settlement. As they looked tow-Ad
it ngman said:

“Alwe are now safely baclfagain, and our marriage has

  

 
   

100 LEW WHETZEL, TIIE SCOUT .

been postponed severnl times, don’t you think it is about
-tiqw it wns C(lll‘llllllnntml l”
"You neetl eril no longer, (l0fll‘09i,”8‘li(l she, leaning: on
‘ltin :.rm: “ you have been very good to submit to my whim-
tllus tar."

‘ ,

 

It. wm n genuine oltl-fitsllionerl wedding, such as our
gl'nntlnmlllvrs ttl! ahont. Fi- (Hing, and dancing, and
mirth and (:itler', and apples, and joll.lic;ttion were the dis-
tin 'lllSltlllg fentnrts. All went as merry as n goodly num-
ber of nnn‘liuge hellq, :unl it was not until the" was small
hours nynnt the twill” that; the parties separated and Went
to their homes. '

‘Hle tlt'tllll of Johnson the renegade, was a relief to all
the settlements. Ills inllnenev, lleyontl all QIH'S'ion, llutl
int-itt-tl most ot the Imus (-n-s, and now I at he WHS gone,
there “we .~o|ne hope l‘elt thth I) nee lnig ‘t he rensonub.y
lookt'l tor. _

lint mee tlitl not, come until 1794, altont a dozen years
later, When the incolnpnrnhle Anthony \Vu_\'m-—" Mml An-
tllony”—gntln-rt-tl his lllVlllt‘ll)ltN together, and scattered
the eotnbinetl forces of the aggresdw trisz n8 the autumn
leaves are scnttvrvd |»e.ore the tornado. A long, lasting
pence then Came, unbroken until the mighty 'l‘vtznmselx
arose, and led his \\'nrrior.~x to battle. But lIlS histon be-
long not t) us. Our Work is done, and we now bid our

kind readere an ut'fcctionute adieu.

 

 

BEADLE & ADAMS"

,, r

‘ ew Twenty Gent Novels! “‘3
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411‘; TWENTY CLINT NOVX‘II S” firh-s will embrace Imnn hut, NOTED .
RKS 0F xn'rm) AUTHORS, chiva in Hm liq-Id nr‘ :1 purva Alum-mm
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r:u‘\' (-hurm-Iornll :L'lltp'iHL', tin-m In 11m \\‘1«1w\l('ifl'lll‘linll. 'l‘mme
akinu Mr '1‘” P2 In 51' .\ \1 mrnxn' NUVELSWH]111111lht'lll-iulhlsscl‘fes.

The bunks uln-zuiy ixsuwl c-mnrm-u:

    

A1413 Elf/E \V. AIIiICN’S

OTED DICK TALBOT ROMANCESV!”

NA3fELY:
Oven-data Kit,
E Rocky D’fountnin Ilob, ‘ r“
Iientuck, the Sport,

Injun ])ick. _ “

Works of unequaled power, hrillinncy and interest-a combination
yBret Harte, Gustave Almnrd and Charles Reade-virtually intro- "

   

clng a New School of American Romance, and whose extraordi-
4 y success opens a NEW ERA 1x POPULAR LITERATURE.

Now in press. and to issue in order, as indicated:

 

.‘~—The Scalp II unters.

BY CAPT. MA \‘Nlc 141.211). ‘ 0
3~Jrhe I) ":‘lil'ie )Inzoppn. ‘
 m ALBERT w. AIKIaN. ReadyDec. m.

—r_l‘he Silent I I um or.
; m Menu) 1. HT. JHHN. Ready Dec. 20th.

"Sold by 1111 ne‘vxdeulers; or sent, post—paid, to any address, on ro-
pl. cf price—TWeuty Cents each—by

3114an AND ibAms, Publishers,
98 Willianz Street. N. Y.

 
 

BEADLE <36 ADAMS’

   
     
  
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
   
  
 
   
  

 New Twenfy Gent N ovalsli

. AIABIQIRT W. AIliICN’S
. Celebrated Dick Talbot Romances!

The immense popularity of the four romances of which Dick Talbot}.
(“ lnjun Dick“) is the center of interest, impels the publishers to put}
them into volumes of convenient size and attractive style, each vol.”
nine to be a coim lete story, and to be sold at the reinarkablya‘eason \\
able price of TWENTY Cnx'rs. V A

 
 

Unable to keep these most noted of all Min Aiken’s productions l ‘
print, as serials, in the New Sonic SATURDIfi- JOURNAL. their appeal’: it
nnce in book shape will he welcomedby those who, having read 211%

or a portion of the romances, as serials, wish to reperuse them, and to: 
l have. them in permanent form; while, to those who have heard of
L the stories, but who have not been able to obtain them, this an-
nouncement will be received \tith satisfaction.

To readers in general it may be said with truth that in this seriesL ’

they have several of the most brilliant novels which American Mien?
ature has otTered—a combination of Bret Harte, Gustave Aimard and’
Charles Reade, that gives us the New School or ltomauce of which

~ every American may Well be proud.

The following is the order of issue:

Rocky Mountain Rob. Now ready. ,

‘ Kentuck, the Sport_ Ready , .3

¢ Injun Dick. Ready ,
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Sold by all newsdealers; or sent, post-paid, to any address, on re?
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BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers,
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Comprising; lhe lieuL wurks unly oi the nm~l pnpuinr living “rilerrl in lhe livid
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And yet Sold at the Standard PriceuTen Cents!
lnmmpurably the most beautiful and .ltlrm-tivc m-rnw ol l)0()k.~, and the moat
delightful reading, ever presented to the popular rt-urlmy, public.
llisluncing all rivalry, equally in NW lu-uuly of the hunks and their intrinsic
CXCCHVIICG as romances‘ th s new series will quickly lllkv iln- loud in public favor,
and be regarded as tho Paragon Navel- l

NOW READY, AND IN PRESS.

No. l llawlu-ye Harry the Young No. 28 0ch Kent, lhr Hunger. H)
Trapper Hunger. By (ill Comm-a. I‘lllwul 1 s l. J...

No. 2 Dead Shun or,The White Vultnn, No. 24 The (hm-Eyed Trapper. H»
B; Alin-rl W. Aiken. (‘upL (hymn-J. '

No. 371116 “of Mlllel‘li or. The En No. 26 llndlmlll. u“. pipx, A 1." .1
cimnlell lnlnnvli 5) Edmund S. Eliin. Aruuhl'n 'lrmwvn. H\' .N. ('. iron.

No. 4 "hu- I)l(-I.'z “Y,Tl|¢- lelm (‘hhn s No. 26 The "Incl. Ship. ll, .luhu s.
Vengrunw. Iii ('rlpt Mayne krill. “rifll'l

“0- 5 Nut “70".”: "Y. Thu Uni-l Hunt lr- N0. ‘2': ~IIIL'Ir “yr. the hrunl‘flc. ..
ll) Mn, \l. V. \n-tm. \V urn-:l <i l "i

No. 6 The \Vhllv Trm-lu-r: v, 'Hu ‘ \u. z\ Imllun Jim. \ ‘l‘..lv- l n... m,
lawn... ..i llu- Him... in l‘.ll\\flrl >. inliw. w- .1, Mi»  1' l, I‘I -.-.,.l >. but

No. 7 r'l'lw "Ill‘luw‘n “'ll’ex --r. The \'nl Nu. 29 'l'lu- \oour. l H'ui‘r.“ m. Hm.

N1") Ilii'lliir'll “'-“‘- -‘“‘l""l""- No. no. liuxlv |:,.-. ..> “.1. u.» mm
o. ' ' n- ' ‘n ‘ruppcr' ur,“:..- i lmy ” ,. i ‘ . . '
eroi'lhn um. i Mi. llx M... Cw, ma... ‘0- "'1 I'll.“ 3“)th ( x|l|\cbc:!“.:ill"; “Pl‘i 

N0. 9 I‘lghlnln u llw Terror of .. r~ _ . ,, _ . I .
the Hunt» Fe ' 'riIII: l.) (‘np .I. i-. l",  .{mri‘vf‘jldl‘l‘ .!l"';":"‘:",'f";" I"
All-mm. ' N . - L I A I

No. 10 Tim l-luml I’ll-ale. A Tull «Ii Nanmd ?'|“'\\“""l""-lillfl: I? ll" "l”\‘“
the Ml‘\24‘llljrl |»_\' l'ni lull Mm} H. II .il. “My”, ‘1' ' ‘I ' h l L‘ r‘ '3  ‘l d

No. II The Muy Ranker: M. 1')” H. i, l v _
an All llu- H 'Ill' u l urn. '.\ Uli (‘- Ina-s, 50' 3‘. "Id I‘nt.“ H". 1"d'“".'“l"‘".i

. Hi. .I 'v' H.1- ll) blur.va \\.

I'il l

 

tr, I’m

No. I? lieu. tlu- ’I‘ruppt-r. .\ ~I':_.ll- J” \var.
the In” .‘i‘nllll “le. N}- "ulHilf‘l .~.ll".illa.‘ N". 8:, ltulnholt‘ 'hc I‘nn'fr: “n1!”

No. 18 'llu- Fn-m-h pr: l'l. Hm Mil .-i<‘r...l [mum [if [w \i mum. is" 0H
ol‘Munlreal. ll} W. J. llmuilh-n. Cpl-inn.

No. 14 Lung h‘lmt: ur The Dn‘l'llvultle. No. 815 The "03 Plum-er. lly Edwud
By Capt. (“Hist-'1 k. S. lui A

No. 15 The (-‘Ilnnmkor ol' the Bor- No. In (‘nr-mn. the Hulda. muting Pu-
drrx ur,'lhl~ “llillul .‘l’lllh'n. ll} Junie. L. il- M! ii... i'v ill .v 2:} Lang, 1, u. I“.
Bone-n. llmlpl

N0. 16 ~lled Iluml: W, The (fimnnvl No.3! 'l‘ln- "mu-t Bun-r m,1hn Pro
Smnrgu. My A. G. i‘lprr. piml ‘1 I w H l w H w. liy i in; lluud.

No. I? lien, the TH; Pf!" ,0?" The Nu. 1:9 “'n-lu-IJIM- fivoutlorTiw Cu
Mum‘th Iii-mm: l. .“\]. .rlls‘\.(nl’nml. 1w .1 l r '.\ .v -. l1: Bum-i. Bel

No. 1% “'lld Run-n, 1h}- llunm‘r; wr, Il‘l'v “- 1’

The Mia‘lllgh‘liult'. it} (NH mp», 50. 40 1"”. "UL". ""nt,r: ,‘ T...
No. 19 ~Tlle Rpm-tor ("Mt-1'; MJHH' 1“ "" ““ \‘~ ‘ ' ‘ l“ " 3) “hard 3-
dlln'l RUVV'VIL'I‘. I'm \'w ‘ h (I l-ii - '3'le l:' \"w I\
No. 20 The B'nr-Klllrrg ~1.’llw I. up 5": 'I “ lid \|
Trail. ll} l ill-L ('urml (h. L“ IV" “"' '~
Nu. 2| “'lld NM: I-I.Tlln' (‘e-lnr Slump 50- I": IAJ'H-W‘lli ‘ " ‘iflm 1me

“Mum-u ’v} Wm. M. EMU-r. “\ 1 H L " lw l um. ul.
NO. 22 Indian Jo. HIL- Guldc. ll) No. 43 The “ hltr Hull.“ ; v. Tim
mwu \\'.( nr‘nn. “mu-l: ii: glml. “\ H4 w ll mind. l‘rb ISIlL
[3" iluAan'a thK i'ocxur Nonw are lur ule h'y all mm“: Al-‘lu‘ -1 ml. .u m :.l, pm: p.111, 1... my
lddreu, on receipt of pri"e, nu «1511: LAC", by

It. the 'I‘rnppcr. By
1 ' . ll.

- x

 

"EADLE AND ADAMH. l'ubllnhen,
9" “ lIlIulu Fin-rt. New York.